Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan said today that Hong Kong people should have every confidence in the city’s legal system given that both serving overseas judges and others who have just left fully recognise the rule of law in the city.

Mr Cheung also told reporters this morning that he fully recognises the contributions made by the overseas judges in Hong Kong.

He added: “Several of them left, maybe for different reasons, some for personal reasons and some for other reasons that may not be disclosed.

Mr Cheung iterated that he is certain that the Judiciary will continue to look for other outstanding judges in overseas jurisdictions.

“I will say that we recognise their contributions. But, as you can see, many excellent common law jurisdictions in the world, they do not have such kind of mechanism.

“The mechanism of overseas judges is a unique feature of our system, but it doesn't mean that if you do not have overseas judges, you do not have good rule of law, as you can see from the other examples of other jurisdictions all over the world.”

He urged Hong Kong people to have confidence in the city’s rule of law.

“We should recognise that there are very good remarks made by the other serving overseas judges in Hong Kong and overseas judges who just left; they fully recognise the rule of law in Hong Kong and we must have every confidence in our own rule of law, in our legal system.”