Canadian judge to retire from Hong Kong’s top court, becomes third member to step down
- Judiciary confirms the retirement of Court of Final Appeal non-permanent judge Beverley McLachlin, just days after two UK judges announce departure
The judiciary on Tuesday announced the retirement of Beverley McLachlin, a non-permanent judge with the Court of Final Appeal, just days after UK judges Jonathan Sumption and Lawrence Collins said they would step down.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stressed that McLaughlin had said her departure was due to her age.
“Yet she expressed her confidence in the members of the court, their independence and their determination to uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Sumption, 75, wrote in an opinion piece published on Monday that Hong Kong’s rule of law was “profoundly compromised”, while Collins, 83, earlier expressed concerns over the city’s “political situation”. The government later issued a lengthy rebuttal in response to Sumption’s article.
McLachlin told local media that she had reached the age of 80 and advised the chief justice on May 24 that she would retire on July 29.
“While I will continue certain professional responsibilities, I intend to spend more time with my family,” she said.