(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the appointment of Lord Patrick Hodge is an indication of Hong Kong's judicial independence that has continued to attract or appeal to very eminent judges all over the world.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mrs Lam expressed that she is delighted to receive the recommendation from the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission about the appointment of Lord Hodge to the Court of Final Appeal as a non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction.

“This is an indication of Hong Kong's judicial independence that has continued to attract or appeal to very eminent judges all over the world in common law jurisdictions to come and sit on our Court of Final Appeal (CFA).”

Mrs Lam made it clear that Lord Hodge's appointment was not prompted by the earlier resignation of Justice Spigelman.

“Because the appointment of CFA judges has a process and that process is unlikely to take place within such a short period of time.”

She also pointed out that since she took office in July 2017, she has had the pleasure of appointing a total of four such judges.

“So out of the 14 non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions now on the CFA, four were appointed in this term of Government including, for the first time, two very distinguished lady judges from the UK and from Canada.”