Hong Kong benches top judge James Spigelman who ‘supports the oppressed’
Hong Kong authorities have revoked the position of one of Australia’s most prominent legal figures, James Spigelman, on the territory’s Court of Final Appeal.
Hong Kong authorities have revoked the position of one of Australia’s most prominent legal figures, James Spigelman, on the territory’s Court of Final Appeal.
The termination of the position held by the former chief justice of NSW and ABC chairman comes amid escalating tension between China and Australia and only 10 days after two Australian journalists were forced to flee the country and fly home from their postings in Beijing.
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam issued a brief statement announcing Mr Spigelman’s position had been terminated on September 2.
The statement, which was published in the Hong Kong government’s gazette on Friday, said Ms Lam had “revoked the appointment” of Mr Spigelman as a judge from another common law jurisdiction but did not give any further details on the decision.
It is unclear whether Mr Spigelman’s termination came at his own request. His tenure as a non-permanent judge was due to expire in July 2022 after it was extended for three years last year.
Mr Spigelman held the position on the city’s Court of Final Appeal since April 2013 and was one of four Australian judges on the court, which was established to uphold the British common-law system.
Former chief justices Murrary Gleeson and Robert French and former Australian High Court justice Bill Gummow also sit on court but have not had their positions revoked.
It comes as China asserts its authority over Hong Kong through the enforcement of new national security laws that prevent and punish threats to the Chinese state, as well as pro-democracy sentiment.
Since the laws were introduced in July, and following 15 months of protest and public outcry over Beijing’s hold on the territory, hundreds of pro-democracy activists and politicians have been arrested. Mr Spigelman, whose Polish parents survived the Holocaust, has previously expressed his sympathy “to groups who suffer discrimination or are otherwise oppressed”, saying he “understood the importance of social tolerance”. He has not made any public remarks about the Hong Kong protests or Beijing’s national security laws.
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