'Rank hypocrisy' of British judge on Hong Kong court

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Democracy advocates are urging Lord Neuberger, a retired UK Supreme Court president, to resign from Hong Kong’s top appellate court due to perceived conflicts stemming from the imprisonment of British pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai. The calls spotlight tensions over foreign judges’ roles in Hong Kong’s legal system amid Beijing’s crackdown and raise questions about Neuberger’s simultaneous leadership in British human rights organizations.

Democracy advocates have intensified demands for Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, a retired senior British judge, to step down from his position on Hong Kong’s highest appellate court amid concerns over perceived conflicts related to the imprisonment of British citizen Jimmy Lai. Lord Neuberger, 78, a former president of the UK Supreme Court, is one of six Commonwealth judges who continue to serve on Hong Kong’s court of final appeal, a role established under the 1997 UK-China handover agreement.

The calls come as Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong has drawn widespread international criticism. Jimmy Lai, also 78, a prominent newspaper publisher and outspoken pro-democracy figure, was sentenced in 2026 to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s national security law—a piece of legislation criticized by Western legal experts as overly harsh and restrictive.

The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong has specifically challenged Lord Neuberger’s ongoing judicial role, highlighting his simultaneous position as patron of the British charity Prisoners Abroad. The charity, founded nearly five decades ago, aims to support the welfare and human rights of British nationals imprisoned overseas. Neuberger previously served as a trustee of the organization before becoming its patron, joining other notable figures such as former Tory attorney-general Dominic Grieve and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis.

Campaigners argue that Lord Neuberger’s continued tenure on Hong Kong’s final court, which upheld Lai’s conviction in 2024 for participating in an unauthorized assembly during the 2019 protests, directly conflicts with the charity’s mission. They contend that despite substantial funding from the UK Foreign Office, Prisoners Abroad has not acted on behalf of Lai, effectively allowing his imprisonment to continue with Neuberger’s judicial endorsement.

In addition to his role with Prisoners Abroad, Lord Neuberger remains president of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), an organization dedicated to promoting the rule of law and human rights globally. Tomas Roberto, a senior member of the campaign group, described Neuberger’s multiple affiliations as “rank hypocrisy,” calling on him to resign from the Hong Kong court or relinquish his leadership roles in British legal and human rights institutions to avoid undermining their credibility.

Lord Neuberger’s judicial career began with his appointment as a law lord in 2007, followed by his service as master of the rolls, the senior civil law judge in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2012. He then became the first president of the UK Supreme Court in 2012 until his retirement in 2017. Despite the controversy, Neuberger has defended his decision to maintain his position on Hong Kong’s court, stating he is fulfilling the wishes of the local legal community and sees no conflict between this role and his patronage at Prisoners Abroad.

The British Institute of International and Comparative Law declined to comment on the matter, and Prisoners Abroad did not respond to requests for comment. The debate highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the role of foreign judges in Hong Kong’s legal system amid Beijing’s tightened control over the territory.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.