Two British judges, Lord Jonathan Sumption and Lord Lawrence Collins, have resigned from Hong Kong’s top court in response to a pro-China crackdown on dissent. The judges received financial compensation for their roles on the Court of Final Appeal, serving on a non-permanent basis to uphold the rule of law since Hong Kong’s handover to China. Lord Collins cited the political situation in Hong Kong as the reason for his resignation, expressing confidence in the court’s independence.
Despite criticism from human rights groups, Western judges have continued to serve on the court amidst increasing repression in Hong Kong. Recent convictions of pro-democracy activists under the national security law have intensified concerns about Hong Kong’s eroding freedoms. Earlier, two senior UK Supreme Court justices, Lord Robert Reed and Lord Patrick Hodge, also resigned from the Court of Final Appeal due to concerns over endorsing the pro-Beijing administration.