Hong Kong lawmakers give approval to a New Zealand judge to join the highest court in the region.
Meet the new kid on the block, William Gibbes Austen Young, a renowned retired judge hailing from the land of the Kiwis, who's jumped ship to join the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. This guy's no newbie, with a whopping 12-year stint at New Zealand's Supreme Court under his belt.
Given his illustrious career, it's no surprise that Eric Chan Kwok-ki, the city's No. 2 official, gushed about Young during a Legislative Council meeting, praising his "high status" and "outstanding reputation." With a wide array of legal expertise, Young has dabbled in everything from crime to competition law and taxation cases, making him a veritable Swiss Army knife of the legal world.
Apparently, Young's arrival will give the Court of Final Appeal a much-needed boost, as his appointment is set to commence this month, ushering in a three-year term. Chan believes that more non-permanent judges from common law jurisdictions will allow the apex court to tackle diverse cases with increased effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring its smooth operation.
Now, before you get too excited, let's dive into Young's impressive backstory. Born on 14 April 1952 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Young rose through the ranks of the legal system, starting as a barrister and solicitor in 1975, before transitioning to the independent bar in 1988. His practice areas were wide-ranging, from prosecution and defense for the Serious Fraud Office to competition law and tax law, mostly representing the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
Following his appointment as Queen's Counsel in 1991, Young went on to serve as a judge at the High Court of New Zealand, the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, and the Supreme Court of New Zealand, where he held the position of President from 2006 to 2010. Beyond New Zealand, Young has graced the benches of Dubai's International Financial Centre Courts, as well as final appellate courts in Seychelles, Samoa, and Fiji.
So, there you have it. Get ready to see this legal juggernaut in action as he takes on the cases at the Court of Final Appeal. Watch out, Hong Kong – here comes the Big Kahuna of justice!
After his illustrious career in the legal sphere of New Zealand, ranging from prosecution and defense in finance and taxation cases, Young is set to bring his expertise to the Court of Final Appeal in the finance hub of Hong Kong. His deep knowledge of the industry, gained from years of service in both common law jurisdictions and international courts, will undoubtedly contribute to the court's ability to handle diverse cases with increased effectiveness and flexibility.
