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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
Chief Justice Andrew Li welcomed the acceptance by the Chief Executive of the recommendations of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching, the Honourable Mr Justice Frank Stock and the Honourable Mr Justice Michael John Hartmann, serving Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, as non-permanent Hong Kong judges to the Court of Final Appeal. The Chief Justice noted that the Administration would be seeking the endorsement of the Legislative Council of these recommended appointments.
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484) provides for a list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges and a list of judges from other common law jurisdictions. Currently, there are three non-permanent Hong Kong judges and 11 non-permanent common law judges. The maximum number of non-permanent judges is 30. In hearing and determining an appeal, the Court of Final Appeal is constituted by five judges, i.e. the Chief Justice, three permanent judges and one non-permanent Hong Kong judge or one non-permanent common law judge.
Ends/Thursday, April 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:15
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