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8
CAP. 4
Supreme Court
[1989 Ed.
(b) the Justices of Appeal (other than vice-presidents), who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments; (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 6)
(c) the judges of the High Court, who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments;
(d) deputy judges, who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments:
Provided that, where the Governor is of the opinion that there are sufficient reasons for so doing, he may determine the precedence of deputy judges irrespective of the priority of their appointments. (Amended 49 of 1983 s. 4)
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) and (c), where the Secretary of State is of the opinion that there are sufficient reasons for so doing, he may determine the precedence of the Justices of Appeal or the judges of the High Court, as the case may be, irrespective of the priority of their appointments.
8. Acting appointments
(1) If the office of Chief Justice or any Justice of Appeal becomes vacant, by death or otherwise, the Governor may appoint another person, who is eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the Supreme Court under section 9, to act in such office until the vacancy therein is filled.
(2) If the Chief Justice or a Justice of Appeal is temporarily ill or absent, the Governor may appoint another person, who is eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the Supreme Court under section 9, to act in his office until he resumes the duties thereof. (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 7)
9. Professional qualifications of judges
(1) A person shall be eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the Supreme Court if
(a) he is qualified to practise as an advocate in a court in Hong Kong, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal matters; or
(b) he is qualified as mentioned in paragraph (a) and prior thereto was qualified to practise as a solicitor in such a court,
and, in either case, he has for at least 10 years practised as an advocate or solicitor in such a court.
(2) A person shall also be eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the Supreme Court if