LONDON (UK) – Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday that Britain is considering pulling its judges out of Hong Kong’s highest court. This has come in the wake of in its latest response to what it considers as China’s violations of its international obligations in the territory.
Britain says a new security law imposed on the territory by Beijing on June 30 was a breach of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration which led to the handover.
London has also objected to new rules imposed by mainland China to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong, and to what it describes as retribution by the territory’s executive against political opposition and silencing of dissent.
Raab wrote in his foreword to the latest in a regular series of six-monthly reports on Hong Kong, “This has been, and continues to be, the most concerning period in Hong Kong’s post-handover history.”
“I have begun consultations with Lord Reed, President of the UK Supreme Court, concerning when to review whether it continues to be appropriate for British judges to sit as non-permanent judges on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.”
The Hong Kong government hit back at what it described as “sweeping attacks and groundless accusations” in the report. It was also added thay they were “irresponsible remarks”.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, the Chinese foreign ministry’s commission in Hong Kong expressed “strong indignation” at the report,.
It quoted a representative as saying, “Wake up and stop the old colonial dream of interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs!”.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has recurrently articulated about the role of leading foreign judges in pointing out Hong Kong’s judicial independence.
About 13 foreign judges currently serve as non-permanent judges on Hong Kong’s top court, including nine British jurists.
Western governments and international human rights groups have expressed concern the national security law imposed by Beijing will crush freedoms in Hong Kong.
In the foreword, Raab said he had begun consulting on what actions need to be taken regarding British judges who currently sit on Hong Kong’s top court.
Britain had already announced new immigration rules making it easier for people from Hong Kong to live in the United Kingdom.