Court Of Final Appeal For Hong Kong

EDM number 396 in 1991-92, proposed by Austin Mitchell on 13/12/1991.

That this House notes with concern the lack of progress towards the establishment of a truly independent Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong as embodied in the Sino-British Joint Declaration; notes that the Court of Final Appeal will replace the Privy Council as the ultimate judicial authority in Hong Kong and that it was originally intended to be operational well before 1992; notes that the Bar Council and Law Society and other public bodies in Hong Kong have expressed concern about the delay and that the current proposals between the United Kingdom and China fail to preserve the discretion and flexibility for the Court of Final Appeal to invite, as it requires, overseas judges from other common law jurisdictions to sit on the Court of Final Appeal in accordance with the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law; notes that the Legislative Council of Hong Kong has recently called by a three quarters majority for the Court of Final Appeal and the independence of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law and guaranteeing the freedom of the individual; and calls upon the Government of the United Kingdom urgently to ensure that a truly independent Court of Final Appeal is established by the end of 1992 to sustain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and enhance public confidence in its future.

This motion has been signed by a total of 39 MPs.