時空錯位

又一名終審法院外藉非常任法官辭任了, 這裏說的是Justice Robert French。外藉的只剩下5個, 下一個走的會是誰? 或者下次走的不只是一個。走一個少一個, 因為沒有新人會加入了。我找不到辭職信的原文, 只看到零散的一兩句。政府新聞處及司法機構分別為這件事發出公告。我不是挑骨頭, 骨頭不是我栽進去的。

HKSAR Government expresses regret at resignation of non-permanent judge of Court of Final Appeal

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The HKSAR Government was grateful that Mr Justice French, in his resignation letter to the Chief Executive, expressed great respect for the judicial officers of the HKSAR as well as for their independence and integrity, and that he felt honoured to have worked with them.

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(香港政府新聞公報)

Statement by the Judiciary

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......In his resignation, Mr Justice French reaffirmed his continued respect for the independence and integrity of all of the Judges on the CFA.
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(司法機構聲明)

這兩段公報有甚麼分別? 分別在於 "judicial officers of the HKSAR" 和 "Judges on the CFA (Court of Final Appeal)"。前者指各級法院的法官, 後者指終審法院的法官, 涵蓋性完全不同。我在SCMP看的辭職信有這一句"...he maintained his “respect for the Hong Kong and international members of the court and their integrity and independence”. 這裏的"court"不是所有法院, 只限於終審法院, 因為他說的是the Hong Kong and international members of the court, 只有終審法院才有"international members"。政府的新聞公報說法錯得離譜, 使人以為Justice French讚賞所有司法人員的獨立性, 他看到這新聞公報, 不知有何感受。這錯是bona fide的嗎? 這錯應該再發公報勘誤。

隨着香港政治環境的變化, 終審法院外藉非常任法官可扮演的角色越來越窄了, 我印象中, 全盛期超過15個, 到了現在剩下5個, 都沒有人肯來了, 說到底也是國安法的影響, 乾脆連這一筆費用也省了, 時空錯位下, Justice French話齋, 外藉非常任法官只屬門面裝飾:

He said he believed the role of foreign judges had “become increasingly anachronistic and arguably cosmetic” and suggested there may be a future role for them as part of an international commercial court in Hong Kong. 

(Sydney Morning Herald).

既然是這樣, 一千幾百萬一年的"花瓶"費也可以省卻, 反正香港的法治形象也無需再粉飾下去。