Ex-magistrate's criminal complaint against Chief Justice and two colleagues dismissed by Hong Kong Justice Department

In a highly unusual move that raised eyebrows in legal circles, the Department of Justice has gone public with details of an internal dispute involving a former magistrate who made a criminal complaint against Hong Kong’s top judge and two senior magistrates he accused of perverting the course of justice.

The department issued a statement late last night giving a full account of the row as it announced that no action would be taken against Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, Chief Magistrate Clement Lee Hing-nin, and Principal Magistrate Bernadette Woo Huey-fang, following an investigation into former Eastern Court magistrate Symon Wong Yu-wing’s criminal complaint against them.

“The director of public prosecutions has concluded that the complaint disclosed, both in law and in fact, no possible criminal offence against any of the persons Mr Wong complained against, and the police have been so advised,” the statement read.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma sets out firm stance on rule of law and judicial independence

The row stemmed from a dangerous drugs case in July last year when Wong, as the presiding magistrate, had adjourned proceedings while revoking the defendant’s bail.

The bail application was then held before Deputy High Court Judge Mr Michael Stuart-Moore, who granted bail and criticised Wong for revoking it.

Wong then complained by email to the chief justice and demanded an investigation. The email was also copied to the two magistrates.

One of them, Woo, advised Wong to soften his tone, which he agreed to do, in addition to allowing “a very capable” person to draft a letter for him. But Wong was unhappy that the draft letter addressed to Lee had him apologising for his original complaint and accepting responsibility for revoking bail.