Hong Kong fails to act on judicial nominations

Three out of six potential High Court judges put forward by the city’s Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission in 2021 were never appointed by then-Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, according to reports.

Japan's Nikkei Asia reported on Monday that among the three candidates not appointed, one candidate pulled out of the process due to concerns over the Beijing-imposed national security law, while another failed to pass a background check.

The report quoted legal professionals saying that withdrawing an application by a nominee is unheard of, due to the rigorous and lengthy interview process, while some said the security law has made the position of a judge less appealing.

When asked to comment on the matter Tuesday morning, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the appointment of judicial officers is carried out in accordance with Hong Kong laws.

When making appointments, consideration is given to the candidates' professional experience, and the appointments are handled and made in accordance with established practices and legal procedures, he added.