Gov't fully respects judicial independence

May 25, 2011

Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the Government fully respects judicial independence and is fully confident in the court's impartiality, independence and professionalism in exercising its judicial power.
 
A statement issued by the Chief Executive’s Office today says, during the May 19 Legislative Council question-and-answer session, Mr Tsang repeatedly stated that the Government fully respected judicial independence and people’s rights to seek judicial review.
 
The Government has been handling the challenges of judicial reviews in full accordance with the law.
 
The statement also says the Chief Executive’s remarks carry no criticism whatsoever of the court. On the contrary, he is fully confident in the court's impartiality, independence and professionalism in exercising its judicial power.
 
Mr Tsang deeply regrets that certain LegCo members have deliberately distorted what he had said as an exertion of pressure on the court.
 
He also said he will not comment on individual cases. His key message on that occasion was that he hoped citizens, especially responsible politicians, would reflect on the concern, shared by some members of the public, on the adverse impact of the delay in infrastructural projects for political reasons on Hong Kong’s economic development and long-term competitiveness.