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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma today¡]April 11¡^welcomed the acceptance by the Chief Executive of the recommendations of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of the Right Honourable Lord Collins of Mapesbury and the Right Honourable Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, serving Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, as non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions to the Court of Final Appeal. The Chief Justice noted that the Administration will 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 six 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.
The appointment of the above two judges will increase the number of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions from 11 to 13 and will provide greater flexibility in dealing with the work of the Court of Final Appeal.
Ends/Monday, April 11, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:28
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