15 August 2024 – Today, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK Foundation) learned that Lord David Neuberger sent a letter to the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom notifying them that he was resigning as Chair of the group.
In the letter, Lord Neuberger said: “I have now concluded that I should go now, because it is undesirable that focus on my position as a non-permanent Judge in Hong Kong should take away, or distract, from the critical and impactful work of the High-Level Panel.”
Far from being a move to distance himself from any “distracting” of the outstanding work of the Media Freedom Coalition it throws again into question why a British judge would choose to risk his reputation, integrity, and his name to sit on Hong Kong’s top court.
The International Bar Association Human Rights Initiative lead by Baroness Helena Kennedy, said in a statement this morning: “My view is that the law in Hong Kong is being weaponised and used against the pro-Democracy movement. I do not think UK judges should sit on the court, and nor should UK lawyers participate in prosecuting cases, and I have made that view very clear.”
She then goes on to say “a retired judge is free to accept whatever roles they are invited to take. Lord Neuberger has decided to continue in his Hong Kong role as he wishes to support the Hong Kong judiciary in their efforts to preserve the Rule of Law. Personally, I think that line in the sand was passed some time ago and IBAHRI has taken the stance that lawyers and judges should take no part in cases in Hong Kong given the assault on the Rule of Law”.
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation completely agree with this assessment and once again call on Lord Neuberger and the remaining foreign judges, Lord Hoffmann, Lord Phillips, Patrick Keane, James Allsop, William Gummow, and Robert French, to resign their positions from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and stop lending their prestige to the persecution of Hong Kong.
Mark Sabah, Director of CFHK Foundation said:
“It is absolutely astonishing that Lord Neuberger has chosen to remain on the Hong Kong Courts overseeing an appeal of British citizen, Jimmy Lai, and other pro-democracy activists, rather than step down from a discredited legal system in Hong Kong. He has chosen to prop up a CCP-driven legal system instead of remaining a valuable voice in defence of media freedom around the world.
He is calling into question his motivation for remaining on the Hong Kong courts and the integrity of legal professionals around the world.”
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