Hire More Judges From Overseas: Grenville Cross

The former Director of Public Prosecutions, Grenville Cross, has recommended recruiting more judges from overseas, to ease a shortage at the High Court and reduce waiting times.

There are now seven vacancies at the Court of First Instance, and last year it took an average of 165 days after an indictment was filed before a criminal case was heard - 44 days longer than the target.

The judiciary has proposed raising the retirement age of judges from 65 to 70 and has improved their remuneration package.

Cross said it might be time to cast the net wider.

"If people of the right caliber aren't available locally to take up these positions, or are available but not interested in taking up these positions, then it's necessary, I think, to look elsewhere to find people of the appropriate quality who could come here perhaps on contracts of three to five years - and of course that’s what happens in the Court of Final Appeal where many overseas judges come here and sit on the Court of Final Appeal and make a massive contribution to the rule of law here in Hong Kong," Cross said.

"Overseas judges in my view have a huge contribution to make."