The Judiciary confirmed late Thursday (Jun 6) that two non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal have resigned.
Former UK Supreme Court judges Jonathan Sumption and Lawrence Collins “have tendered their respective resignations to the Chief Executive,” the statement wrote.
Lord Sumption and Lord Collins were appointed as the non-permanent judges of Hong Kong's top court in 2019 and 2011 respectively.
Sumption was a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from January 2012 until his retirement in December 2018.
Collins was appointed to the Court of Appeal of the UK in 2007 and became a Justice of the new Supreme Court of the UK in 2009. He reached the compulsory retirement age of 70 in 2011.
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance provides for a list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges and a list of judges from other common law jurisdictions. The term of appointment of such judges is three years.
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung expressed regret over Collins and Sumption's resignations. He noted that overseas non-permanent judges, including Collins and Sumption, have made valuable contributions to the court's work over the years, and he is grateful for that.
There are currently four local non-permanent judges and eight non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions in the Court of Final Appeal.
Cheung said that two of the overseas non-permanent judges were appointed last year and in May this year respectively, while suitable candidates from overseas common law jurisdictions will continue to be appointed to the Court as non-permanent judges.
“The Chief Justice has complete confidence that the Court of Final Appeal will continue to fully perform its constitutional role as the final appellate court in Hong Kong,” Cheung said. “Its operation will not be affected by any change in membership of the Court.”
(Updated at 1.12 am)
