A High Court complex will be built on the Queensway Government Offices site in Admiralty, adjacent to the current High Court building, the government announced yesterday.

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, during the ceremonial opening of the Legal Year yesterday, expressed gratitude to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for agreeing to assign the site for this purpose.

Additionally, Cheung said the new District Court complex in Causeway Bay will be completed and operational by 2027.

A government spokesman reiterated the commitment of Lee to supporting the Judiciary and ensuring that sufficient resources will be allocated for the effective functioning of the courts and the improvement of facilities.

The Development Bureau will also conduct a separate review of the proposed use of the Central Harbourfront site, initially designated for the relocation of the High Court building.

Cheung said courts will not automatically convict individuals accused of national security offenses or impose the harshest penalties. He said judges will not succumb to any pressure when handling cases.

"Threats of sanction or reprisal against judges for simply discharging their judicial duties are, therefore, repugnant to the rule of law and fundamentally objectionable," he said.

Cheung said the work of the Judiciary has often been viewed solely through the lens of the national security law, leading to a narrow and distorted understanding of the breadth and significance of their work and the state of the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong.

Cheung also noted the importance of recruiting and retaining the best legal and judicial talents for Hong Kong courts.

Being a judge, he said, is more than just a job - it is a calling for those who are driven by public spirit and seeking to contribute meaningfully to the legal system. Under the common law system, the court's interpretation of legislation becomes binding law, shaping future case outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to attract and retain exceptional legal and judicial professionals.

Cheung also expressed satisfaction with the response from mid-level members of the legal industry during the recent recruitment of District Court judges.

At the opening, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-Kwok criticized Western politicians who proposed imposing sanctions on judges and judicial officers involved in national security cases, calling their actions hypocritical.

Lam said all national security hearings are conducted openly, and the court's decisions and judgments are made public on the judiciary's website, accessible to all.

He urged those passing judgments to examine the available evidence and reject baseless claims that the Judiciary's independence has been compromised in cases related to national security.

"The real problem is that many people did not bother to do so before passing their own judgments," he said. "For any reasonable and objective bystander who is eager to seek the truth, he or she will not see one iota of evidence that the Judiciary's independent judicial power has been compromised in cases involving national security."

Victor Dawes, chairman of the Bar Association, said 2024 would be an eventful year, with the anticipated enactment of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

He acknowledged that Hong Kong would be closely observed and that this development would likely spark debates about the city's future.

He emphasized the need for clear and precise terms in the new legislation and a transparent and comprehensive consultation process to demonstrate the government's willingness to listen to public concerns.

Chan Chak-ming, president of the Law Society, slammed foreign attempts to pressure Hong Kong judges, prosecutors, and government officials through threats of sanctions over the past year.

He stressed the importance of defending the integrity of the Judiciary, prosecution, and governance against politically motivated interference that undermines the rule of law.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com

Andrew Cheung, at the ceremonial opening of the Legal Year, says courts will not blindly convict all national security defendants and that judges will not yield to any external pressure in handling cases. SING TAO

High Court complex to rise on Queensway Government Offices site