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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Chief Justice, Mr Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, today (March 28) welcomed the acceptance by the Chief Executive of the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Syed Kemal Shah Bokhary, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, as a non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Court of Final Appeal with effect from October 25, 2012. The Chief Justice noted that the Administration would be seeking the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointment.
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 13 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/Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:45
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