CE expresses sorrow over passing of Sir Anthony Mason
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (March 18) expressed sorrow over the passing of Sir Anthony Mason, a former non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal.
"Sir Anthony was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2013 in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong. He served as a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal from 1997 to 2015. Since the earliest days of the Court of Final Appeal's establishment, Sir Anthony contributed to nurturing the Court's development with his profound wisdom and illustrious experience. He adjudicated a wide range of high-profile cases, serving the Court with dedication and excellence. Highly esteemed and deeply respected in the judicial and legal sectors, Sir Anthony consistently supported - both during his tenure and after his retirement - Hong Kong's arrangement of appointing judges from common law jurisdictions as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal under the Basic Law. He was instrumental in establishing the reputation of the Court of Final Appeal and furthering its prestige in Hong Kong and other common law jurisdictions. Sir Anthony also steadfastly supported legal education in Hong Kong, having lectured to numerous students, teachers and legal professionals of Hong Kong throughout the years. He constantly inspired the younger generation with his wit and intellect and made eminent contributions to Hong Kong's legal sector.
"I express sorrow over the passing of Sir Anthony and extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mr Lee said.
Sir Anthony Mason, Photo source: online image
CJ expresses sorrow over passing of former NPJ Sir Anthony Frank Mason
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, today (March 18) expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Honourable Sir Anthony Frank Mason, GBM, former Non-Permanent Judge (NPJ) of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA).
"Sir Anthony, who served from 1997 to 2015 as one of the earliest NPJs drawn from another common law jurisdiction, was a steadfast pillar of the CFA since its inception. He sat on many of the Court's most significant constitutional cases during its formative years and authored some of its most important judgments. Beyond constitutional law, he also contributed substantially to the Court's jurisprudence in other important areas of law, leaving a lasting imprint on its early development. Through his judicial wisdom, integrity and international standing, he made an immeasurable contribution to establishing the Court's reputation as Hong Kong's apex court and to securing the confidence and trust of the community it serves. In recognition of his distinguished service to Hong Kong, he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2013," Chief Justice Cheung said.
Sir Anthony was born in Australia in 1925. He was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1951 and appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1964. In 1969, Sir Anthony was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where he sat as a member of the Court of Appeal until 1972. In 1972, he was appointed to the Bench of the High Court. From 1987 to 1995, he served as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1988.
"On behalf of the Judiciary, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Sir Anthony's family," Chief Justice Cheung said.
Source: AI-found images
