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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Chief Justice, Mr Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, today (April 8) welcomed the acceptance by the Chief Executive of the recommendations of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of the Honourable James Spigelman and the Honourable William Gummow as non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal. The Chief Justice noted that the Administration would be seeking the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the 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 five non-permanent Hong Kong judges and 10 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 Honourable James Spigelman and the Honourable William Gummow to the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal will increase the number of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions from 10 to 12 and will provide greater flexibility for dealing with the caseload of the Court of Final Appeal.
Ends/Monday, April 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:09
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