Scottish judge appointed to Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong

Lord Hodge has been appointed to the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong after the sudden departure of an Australian judge amid concerns over China’s new national security law in the territory. Lord Hodge, 67, the deputy president of the UK Supreme Court, will join the bench of the top appeals court in the former British colony. Hong Kong’s judicial system is distinct from that of mainland China and judges from other common law jurisdictions are appointed to provide for a greater degree of independence. Carrie Lam, the pro-Beijing chief executive of Hong Kong, has approved the appointment that will now be rubber-stamped by the territory’s parliament.