Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal is the final appellate court within the court system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and it plays an important part in developing the common law in Hong Kong. It was established on 1 July 1997, when the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance came into force, and after 30 June 1997 it replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the highest appellate court. It hears appeals involving important questions of law, in particular points of public and constitutional importance, and appeals where leave has been granted for some special reason. Final appeals are heard by a bench of five: the Chief Justice, three permanent judges and one non-permanent judge. Distinguished judges from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have sat as members of the court.