Overseas judge sitting on Hong Kong’s top court extends term for 3 more years

An overseas non-permanent judge of Hong Kong’s top court has extended his term of office for another three years, following a number of resignations from other foreign justices in recent years.

The judiciary announced on Friday that Justice William Gummow, an Australian who joined the Court of Final Appeal in 2013, and two other local non-permanent judges would remain in their positions for another three years.

Gummow will begin his new term next Tuesday, while the other two local judges, Justice Frank Stock and Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi, will start their next terms in September and October, respectively.

The judiciary said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had accepted the recommendation of the city’s chief justice that the top court extend the three judges’ terms of office.

Last month, the Legislative Council endorsed the appointment of William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young, a 73-year-old retired New Zealand judge, to the top court.

The city has seen six foreign judges step down in recent years, with Australian Robert French’s exit in March the latest departure.