'UK Judges Will Shun HK If Rule Of Law Undermined'

The president of the UK’s Supreme Court said he would not be prepared to serve or nominate any of his judges to sit on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal if judicial independence or the rule of law is undermined in the SAR.

Lord Reed made the comments during a session with the constitution committee of the House of Lords, where he was asked by members about the situation in Hong Kong and whether Supreme Court judges could continue to serve in the SAR, given the introduction of the national security law, and the planned electoral changes.

"If there was any undermining of the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary, or if it was expected to act contrary to rule of law, or if simply the situation in Hong Kong became one where we could in no longer good conscience serve there, then I would no longer be prepared to serve or to nominate other judges of the court to serve there," he said.

Lord Reed said he would be meeting UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab "shortly", along with the justice secretary and lord chancellor Robert Buckland in light of the latest developments.

"You can be assured that I won’t allow the Supreme Court’s reputation to be put at risk," he said.

When asked by another committee member if the withdrawal of foreign judges could be used as political leverage against Beijing, Lord Reed said that was a matter for the foreign secretary.

He added that he felt UK judges had a responsibility to the people of Hong Kong.

"So it’s a matter that requires great care deciding if the situation has reached a point at which continued service is no longer possible, it’s a very serious step to take. Our role there is one which is prestigious within Hong Kong itself and it gives us considerable influence in some ways in Hong Kong which we might not otherwise have."