Australian Judge Sitting on HK Court Legitimises Beijing’s Oppression, Protesters Claim

Patrick Keane, who sits on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, faced protests outside his lecture in NSW, concerned at his role in legitimising Beijing’s rule.

Protesters outside a lecture by Judge Patrick Keane in Sydney, calling for the release of Jimmy Lai, a political prisoner held in Hong Kong. Supplied

Former Australian High Court Judge Patrick Keane was heckled by protesters outside the venue for a lecture on “Christian inspiration and constitutional insights” at the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court on Oct. 22.

The protesters objected to Keane’s acceptance last year of a seat on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, arguing that the presence of foreign judges lends legitimacy to an institution fatally compromised by Beijing’s influence.