Watch This | HK's constitutional order guarantees independent exercise of judicial power, CE vows to protect judges from undue influence

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government spokesman today (June 11) expressed strong disagreements with the personal opinions on the rule of law and independent judicial power of Hong Kong made by Lord Sumption, who recently resigned as a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR.

HK Chief Executive John Lee responded in a press conference today (June 11). He emphasized that Hong Kong has become safer and more stable, enabling businesses to make sound decisions due to the certainty and security the city now enjoys. The Hong Kong government has issued a comprehensive statement to express its strong disagreement with many of the assumptions made in a recent article.

He pointed out that a judge's professional expertise lies in law, based on their legal knowledge and experience. A judge's professional expertise does not extend to the realm of politics. A judge is undoubtedly entitled to have personal political preferences, but those preferences are not within their professional purview.

Lee indicated that the quintessential function of the Judiciary is to administer justice according to law. This entails that the jurisdiction of the courts in any given legal system is delineated by the constitutional order and laws of the legal system in which they operate.

Tracing back to 2021, Lord Sumption refused to participate in a politically motivated boycott in the UK and rightly pointed out that the rule of law should not be confused with democracy.

Lee stressed that the HK government has never and will never interfere or attempt to interfere with the judicial process. Non-interference in the judicial process is the essence of Hong Kong's rule of law.

Some UK officials and politicians are trying to weaponize the UK's judicial influence to target China and HK. Under these slanders, Lee firmly said, " We must protect our judges from these undue interferences and provide them with unwavering support for their courage, determination, and professionalism in upholding the rule of law, even in the face of unfair treatment from certain overseas counterparts."