**************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, today (September 16):
Chief Justice: Today I am not going to comment on things which have recently been said, nor am I going to comment on other people's comments on what I have said in the past, but I wish to emphasise two points, both in relation to the Basic Law. The first point is judicial independence. This is specified in the Basic Law in three separate places. I would ask people to read Articles 2, 19 and 85. The second point deals with equality before the law. This is Article 25 of the Basic Law which prescribes everybody is equal before the law without exceptions. This applies to everyone. That's all I wish to say today. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:58
NNNN
