Overview

• Lawmakers approved Sir William Young’s appointment on June 4 as a non-permanent judge, marking the first foreign addition since 2024
• With Sir William’s arrival, six overseas jurists now serve on the Court of Final Appeal, compared with a peak of 15 in 2019
• Since Beijing introduced the national security law in 2020, about half of the court’s foreign judges have resigned or declined renewals, citing political concerns
• Chief Executive John Lee praised Young’s “eminent standing and reputation” as evidence of confidence in Hong Kong’s judiciary
• Chief Justice Andrew Cheung acknowledged that geopolitical headwinds complicate recruiting overseas judges but insisted the court’s quality and independence remain intact