Hong Kong’s legislature has endorsed the appointment of a 73-year-old retired New Zealand judge to the city’s top court, the first foreign non-permanent justice to join in over a year amid a number of recent resignations.
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William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young, who retired as permanent judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in April 2022 after serving for 12 years, will join five other overseas non-permanent justices from common law jurisdictions at the Court of Final Appeal.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that Young had “a high status and outstanding reputation”.
“His practice areas are very wide, covering criminal, competition law and taxation cases … [Young’s] appointment will make a great contribution to the work of the Court of Final Appeal,” the No 2 official said.
Young is expected to begin his three-year term this month.
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Chan added that the appointment of more non-permanent justices from common law jurisdictions would allow the apex court to handle different cases “more effectively and flexibly” and ensure its “effective operation”.