Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with Lord Hoffmann on the renewal of his tenure as a Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal judge; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of this appointment on the Government's support for political freedom in Hong Kong.

Retired UK judges that choose to serve on Hong Kong courts do so under their own personal judgement, which is their right as private citizens. The UK judiciary and legal profession remain independent from the UK Government. It is for remaining retired UK judges to decide for themselves whether to continue their service in Hong Kong.