Emily Lau
Democratic Party Chairwoman Emily Lau said she believes Hong Kong people would welcome the former Chief Justice, Andrew Li's defence of Hong Kong's judicial independence.
She said Li chose a critical moment to defend the SAR's core values, and called on mainland officials to refrain from making further controversial remarks about the rule of law.
In an article published in the South China Morning Post, Li said "under the rule of law, no one, however high his position, is above the law … In these uncertain times, it is all the more important that the rule of law with an independent judiciary should remain an unshakeable foundation of our society."
The former chief justice’s remarks came two weeks after Beijing's liaison office director, Zhang Xiaoming, sparked controversy by dismissing the notion of separation of powers for the city, and saying that the chief executive transcends all three branches of government, including the judiciary.
Li, who presided over the judiciary from 1997 to 2010, also rebutted a suggestion from mainland scholar Rao Geping to remove overseas judges from the city's Court of Final Appeal after 2047.
He stressed their presence should be "a lasting feature" as the arrangement does not only help enhance the Court of Final Appeal’s experience and vision, but has also won the trust of the local community and the international community in the SAR's independent judicial system.
Earlier this month, Rao said judges at every level of local courts should be from Hong Kong.
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Last updated: 2015-09-25HKT 17:22
She said Li chose a critical moment to defend the SAR's core values, and called on mainland officials to refrain from making further controversial remarks about the rule of law.
In an article published in the South China Morning Post, Li said "under the rule of law, no one, however high his position, is above the law … In these uncertain times, it is all the more important that the rule of law with an independent judiciary should remain an unshakeable foundation of our society."
The former chief justice’s remarks came two weeks after Beijing's liaison office director, Zhang Xiaoming, sparked controversy by dismissing the notion of separation of powers for the city, and saying that the chief executive transcends all three branches of government, including the judiciary.
Li, who presided over the judiciary from 1997 to 2010, also rebutted a suggestion from mainland scholar Rao Geping to remove overseas judges from the city's Court of Final Appeal after 2047.
He stressed their presence should be "a lasting feature" as the arrangement does not only help enhance the Court of Final Appeal’s experience and vision, but has also won the trust of the local community and the international community in the SAR's independent judicial system.
Earlier this month, Rao said judges at every level of local courts should be from Hong Kong.
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Last updated: 2015-09-25HKT 17:22
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1213563-20150925.htm
