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Hong Kong commercial law hub allure damaged by foreign judges row, lawyers say
By James Pomfret, Scott Murdoch and Jessie Pang HONG KONG©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Moonraker
Rightist nationalism moves in, independence of judiciary is undermined, rule of law moves out, politically-managed appointments and corruption increase. Almost an iron rule of politics.
Desert Tortoise
Hong Kong is just another repressed and repressive communist Chinese city now. Everything that made it special has been destroyed by Xi Jinping and Làhm Jehng Yuht-ngòh, aka Carrie Lam.
MotMotMot
Honestly I'm surprised it hasn't collapsed quicker. So much business has moved to Singapore in the past decade. Many Western companies are fearful of having senior executives stationed in HK for fear that they could be arrested for political reasons.
And from a Western business perspective, Singapore is an easy sell.
Desert Tortoise
Not really. Aside from a horrible climate Singapore is hideously expensive. It is also only very slightly less oppressive than PRC. Two reporters for Time Magazine wrote an account of how Lee Kwan Yew came to power at the conclusion of British colonial rule, an account identical to my own argument in my Masters Thesis against including Singapore among the world's democracies. It emphatically is not. But writing that so offended the PAP the two reporters for TIme were arrested and caned. Can't say the truth in Singapore, no different from PRC. And business knows this.
And then there are the ridiculous fines for not flushing the toilet or laying down for a snooze on the grass in a public park. I still cherish a map of Singapore I purchased there in a book store comparing it to one of our own US Navy charts. The map from the Singapore has huge blank areas and is highly censored. You can see what is in the blank spaces on the Navy chart, reservoirs, water treatment facilities, military bases and airfields, etc.
GuruMick
Desert Tortoise on the money regarding Singapore.
Judicial and media systems not on par with the west.
Critics of the Government are usually bankrupted by long legal procedures....In HK, critics jailed or forced into exile.
Opportunity for Australia to move into poll position in finance and banking....independent legal system one of the world's best.
Pukey2
What nation on earth has foreign judges? Can you imagine a French or Chinese guy working as a judge in America?
Pukey2
https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/global/2023
Hong Kong ranks above the United States of America and is level with France. Oh, the irony.