CJ denounces threats of sanctions

January 19, 2026

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung:
Threats of sanctions are totally unacceptable, totally unacceptable to any judicial system and it is wholly unacceptable to us. It is a direct affront to the rule of law. Judges who have been named as targets for potential sanctioning now, this is wholly unfair to these colleagues of ours who have only been performing their duties in accordance with their judicial oath. I hope that these threats of sanctions will never materialise. In a civilised society like Hong Kong, which is governed by the rule of law, threats of sanctions are wholly unacceptable.

Threats of sanctions, a direct affront to the rule of law, are totally unacceptable to a civilised society like Hong Kong as well as any judicial system, said Chief Justice Andrew Cheung.

At the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2026 today, Mr Cheung pointed out that it is unfair to name judges as targets for potential sanctions, as judges have only been performing duties in accordance with their judicial oath.

“I hope that these threats of sanctions will never materialise,” he added.