Hong Kong swears in Court of Final Appeal new CJ

Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, the new Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), was sworn in on Monday.

Cheung, succeeding Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, took the judicial oath at Government House, administered by the HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

The new chief justice swore to uphold the HKSAR Basic Law, bear allegiance to the HKSAR, and serve the HKSAR conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity.

He also swore to safeguard the law and administer justice without fear or favor, self-interest or deceit.

Cheung said he would endeavor to maintain the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary and safeguard the rule of law.

Lam congratulated Cheung and pledged continued support for the Judiciary.

“I am confident that, under Chief Justice Cheung’s leadership, the Judiciary will continue to be a bulwark of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy and our judges will continue to safeguard the law and administer justice without fear or favor,’’ she said.

Cheung joined Hong Kong’s judiciary system in 2001 and was appointed as the permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal in October 2018.