Hong Kong protests: judiciary lifts rare ban imposed on judge barred from cases linked to 2019 unrest
- Spokesman says judge Kwok Wai-kin’s performance since the ban was imposed was among the factors taken into account in reaching the decision
- Kwok drew complaints after expressing sympathy for a man who attacked protesters with a knife, calling him ‘a bloodstained victim’
Judge Kwok Wai-kin was listed as the presiding jurist over four such cases brought up for procedural matters in the District Court on Thursday afternoon, only to be replaced by his colleague Amanda Woodcock, who showed up instead.
But the judiciary later confirmed in response to a Post inquiry that Kwok had indeed been permitted by court leaders to “assist the handling of cases related to social events”.
A spokesman said Chief District Judge Justin Ko King-sau had considered Kwok’s strengths, experience and performance in the past year since he faced the complaints, as well as other relevant factors including judicial manpower and work arrangements, in reaching the decision. The move was backed by Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung.
The District Court currently has more than 300 cases stemming from the social movement, the spokesman added. Hearing dates have been listed as far ahead as 2024.
When asked why Kwok did not show up as scheduled on Thursday, the spokesman said the judge was involved in one of the cases, without elaborating further.