As part of an occasional series on international justice & the Rule of Law in other jurisdictions, Dr Ping-fat Sze returns to consider the administration of justice in Hong Kong
- In a civilised society, respect for the judiciary is earned, not given, with humility and dedication.
The repeated attempts by authorities in Hong Kong to pass a law rendering any person virtually extraditable to mainland China were met with massive street protests. While the police crackdown has also hit the international headlines, the attention of the public has been re-focused on the administration of justice in this former British colony.
The constitutional duty of judges to decide cases solely on law and evidence, without fear or favour, was repeated at the opening of the legal year. Nevertheless, the decision of the Court of Final Appeal in a recent case is indicative of the extent to which the highest court in Hong Kong was prepared to make an exception.
Umbrella movement
During the Umbrella Movement
