Chief Justice Andrew Kwok-nang Li (center) walks out of the Court of Final Appeal to the applause of his colleagues after his farewell ceremony Friday. After over 37 years' work as advocate and judge, Li will cease service on August 31 and take pre-retirement leave on September 1. Edmond Tang / China Daily

Li expresses full confidence in continuing judicial independence

The first Chief Justice to serve Hong Kong, following reunification, held his final court sitting Friday after 13 years, saying he has full confidence in the independence of the judiciary here.

"I have every confidence and an unshakeable belief that an independent Judiciary upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the individual will continue to thrive under 'One Country, Two Systems,'" Chief Justice Andrew Li told a packed court room of colleagues from across the judiciary at the Court of Final Appeal during his final sitting Friday.

"All judges understand the community expects high standards of professional competence. I believe they will do their utmost to fulfill these expectations."

The Chief Justice said he returns to life as a private citizen leaving no regrets behind him. He called on the judiciary to continue with several law reforms initiated during his tenure. He also urged the legal community to maintain exchanges with their counterparts on the mainland.

He said, "it is of great importance that Judges on the mainland and Hong Kong have a mutual understanding of each other's systems," and added that "every effort (should be) made by all concerned to ensure that the ordinary citizen has access to justice."

Speaking at Li's final sitting, Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung praised Li for his leadership in overhauling the legal system.

"Gone are the days when civil proceedings could be approached at a leisurely pace. The courts are also now more robust and proactive," he said, adding that Li's contribution to promoting mediation had now made it a part of the dispute resolution culture.

In honoring the city's longest serving member of the Law Reform Commission, Wong also acknowledged Li's concern for the man on the street, his promotion of the use of Chinese in court and the setting up of the Resource Centre for people engaged in court cases without lawyers.

Wong also commended Li for shouldering the monumental task of bringing about "the legal realization of the city's innovative 'One Country, Two System' principle," and for his judgments which have shaped freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, equality, privacy, the right of abode and other rights and freedoms of Hong Kong.

The President of the Law Society of Hong Kong Huen Wong credited Li's foresight in establishing the Court of Final Appeal and his luring of prominent justices from Commonwealth countries while the Chairman of the Bar Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association Russell Colman lauded Li's ability to attract large numbers of strong and senior lawyers to leave their lucrative private practices and enter public service to serve on the bench as part of his "vision of a homegrown Hong Kong judiciary of high quality."

Li announced he would retire three years early to ensure "orderly succession planning" for incoming Chief Justice Ma Tao-li who will enter at a time when several other top judges are preparing for retirement over the next four years.

"(It) has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as the first Chief Justice in the new order," Li said. "As a son of Hong Kong, it was my duty to serve in these historic times with the reunification of Hong Kong as part of China. I thank the community for giving me the opportunity to contribute."

Appointed by former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa after the handover, the 61-year-old Li will officially end his tenure on August 31.

China Daily

(HK Edition 07/17/2010 page1)