Hong Kong: Human Rights

Baroness Goudie Excerpts

Thursday 4th June 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Goudie (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Anelay, for this debate. Nothing is more fundamental to human rights in Hong Kong and elsewhere than an independent, impartial judiciary. Hong Kong has that; mainland China has not. An important feature of the judicial system in Hong Kong is that, since handover, its local Court of Final Appeal has replaced appeals to the Privy Council. This was authorised by the Hong Kong Basic Law in London. The judges in the Court of Final Appeal are mostly from Hong Kong, but very senior judges or retired judges are from the United Kingdom, Australia or Canada and do participate. A clear violation of human rights in Hong Kong would be interference by China in the composition of the Court of Final Appeal for cases or categories of case, or interference in the filling of vacancies. There is no doubt that the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary is under attack, and this is a grave danger for the rule of law in Hong Kong. Hong Kong judges have been threatened—

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay]

My Lords, I am sorry but we are running very tight.

[Baroness Goudie]

Okay. Can I continue or not?

[The Deputy Speaker]

I call the noble Baroness, Lady Meyer.