Legal chiefs: Rule of law ‘cornerstone’ for HK
The rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong and it should be observed and respected by all in the society, the city’s legal leaders said on Monday.
The remark came as Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Geoffrey Ma Tao-li and Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeukwah gave their speeches at the Ceremonial Opening of Legal Year 2018.
Delivering her first open speech since being appointed as the legal head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government last Friday, Cheng said the rule of law should not be practiced only by lawyers, judges and the government. “More importantly, the rule of law should be observed and respected by the community as a whole,” she said.
Cheng called on the whole society to jointly bear responsibility to “respect, promote and further” the rule of law as a fundamental basis of Hong Kong.
Ma, the SAR’s judicial chief, echoed Cheng’s call and said rule of law is important to the vast majority of people in Hong Kong. He said it is in everyone’s interest that the rule of law remains strong, respected and visible.
Meanwhile, vowing to safeguard the rule of law in Hong Kong, the two expressed their confidence in the SAR’s judicial independence.
Cheng admitted the SAR’s rule of law is being tested over time but said it is “in no way compromised”. She said she will stand firm to guard the independence of the judiciary and ensure decisions made by the Department of Justice are legally correct and free from any interference.
Ma emphasized that courts and judges are concerned only with the law and legal issues which arise in the disputes. Any political, economic or social issues are just not relevant, Ma stressed.
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