A top British judge has quit as the chairman of a legal advisory board to a body supporting international media freedom following criticism of his work in Hong Kong.
Lord Neuberger’s decision follows his participation in a Hong Kong court ruling that denied an appeal by Jimmy Lai, a media tycoon, and other pro-democracy activists convicted over a protest in Hong Kong in 2019.
The ruling was a controversial endorsement of the convictions and was heavily criticised by Lord Patten of Barnes, the city’s last British governor.
Lord Neuberger, a former president of the UK’s Supreme Court, admitted his role as a part-time judge in Hong Kong was linked to his decision to stand down as chairman of a panel of legal experts that advises the Media Freedom Coalition, an international NGO.
“It is undesirable that focus on my position as a non-permanent judge in Hong Kong should take away, or distract from, the critical and impactful work of the high level panel,” he said.
The panel of legal experts on media freedom was established in 2019. It provides legal advice and recommendations for promoting and protecting media freedom and independent media.