LONDON: Britain's Supreme Court said it would continue to assess the position of serving UK judges on Hong Kong's top court in discussion with the UK government, while raising 'concerns' about parts of new security laws imposed on the city by China.
Under a 1997 agreement, Britain has provided two serving law lords to sit on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.
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The presence of senior foreign judges from common law jurisdictions such as the UK to serve on the city's highest court is a tradition that has helped burnish Hong Kongs reputation as a strong and independent legal hub.
The recent imposition of harsh national security laws on the financial hub by China's Communist Party leaders, however, has raised grave concerns about the city's legal independence, autonomy and freedoms.
"Whether judges of the Supreme Court can continue to serve as judges in Hong Kong will depend on whether such service remains compatible with judicial independence and the rule of law," said the president of the UK Supreme Court Robert Reed.
"The new security law contains a number of provisions which give rise to concerns. Its effect will depend upon how it is applied in practice," Reed added in a statement on the "role of UK judges on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal."
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READ: UK says China's security law is serious violation of Hong Kong treaty
Reed did not specify which provisions. Under the national security laws, China can exercise jurisdiction on some serious cases, and Hong Kong's leader has the right to designate judges to hear national security cases.
Even before the national security laws were enacted on Jun 30 by China's parliament without any Hong KRead More – Source
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