Hong Kong's judicial independence not interfered by mainland authorities: chief justice

The aerial photo taken on June 27, 2017, shows the scenery of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, China. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

Foreign media report on so called mainland interference with Hong Kong's judicial independence was refuted by Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

HONG KONG, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said on Wednesday that Hong Kong's judicial independence is guaranteed under the HKSAR Basic Law and has not encountered interference from the mainland authorities.

Responding to media inquiries arising from a report by Reuters on Tuesday, the chief justice issued a statement on Wednesday.

Since taking office in 2010, the chief justice has not at any stage encountered or experienced any form of interference by the mainland authorities with judicial independence in Hong Kong, including the appointment of judges, said the statement.

Judicial independence is guaranteed under the Basic Law and is a main component of the rule of law in Hong Kong, it added. ■