An 86-year-old British judge has stepped down from Hong Kong’s top court at the end of his term, becoming the fifth foreign justice to do so this year.
But the judiciary issued assurances that the Court of Final Appeal’s daily operations would not be affected by the recent personnel changes, despite its steady caseload.
Nicholas Addison Phillips, a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal since 2012, decided not to extend his term, which ended on Monday, citing “personal reasons”, according to the judiciary.
“He indicated recently that he did not wish to have his term of appointment extended upon its expiry on 30 September 2024 due to personal reasons,” it said in a written reply to the Post.
The judiciary extended gratitude to the Phillip’s “valuable contribution” to the court and his support for the rule of law in Hong Kong over his 12-year tenure.
