Press Release

 

 

Term of Non-Permanent CFA Judges Extended

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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Chief Executive has accepted the recommendation of the Chief Justice to extend the term of office for one more period of 3 years of 15 non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal, including 11 Hong Kong judges and 4 judges from other common law jurisdictions.

Non-Permanent Hong Kong Judges:

Sir Denys Tudor Emil Robert Sir Alan Armstrong Huggins

Mr Art Michael McMullin Sir Derek Cons

Mr William James Silke Mr Kutlu Tekin Fuad

Mr Philip Gerard Clough Mr Neil Macdougall

Sir Noel Plunkett Power The Hon Mr Justice Gerald

Mr John Barry Mortimer Paul Nazareth

Non-Permanent Judges from Other Common Law Jurisdictions:

The Hon Sir Anthony Mason The Rt Hon the Lord Cooke

The Rt Hon Sir Edward Somers of Thorndon

The Hon Sir Daryl Dawson

The 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. That term may be extended for one or more periods of 3 years by the Chief Executive acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Justice.

At present, there are 11 non-permanent Hong Kong judges and 6 non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions. Out of the 17 non-permanent CFA judges, 15 will have their term of office expired by end of August 2000.

Having regard to the caseload of CFA and in the interest of continuity, the Chief Justice is of the view that the term of the 15 non-permanent judges should be extended for one more term of 3 years," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.

The Chief Executive has earlier on obtained the endorsement of the Legislative Council on the appointment of Mr Justice Litton and Mr Justice Ching as non-permanent Hong Kong judges of the CFA upon their ceasing to hold offices as permanent judges, and to appoint Sir Gerard Brennan, Sir Thomas Eichelbaum and Lord Peter Millett as non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions. After the coming into effect of these appointments, there will be 13 non-permanent Hong Kong judges and 9 non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions, bringing the total number of non-permanent CFA judges to 22," he added.

End/Friday, July 21, 2000

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