British judge on Hong Kong’s top court quits media freedom group advisory panel

Lord David Neuberger during a news conference at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London in May 2011 (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)

A British judge who was part of a Hong Kong court panel that unanimously dismissed an appeal from imprisoned prominent publisher Jimmy Lai and six former pro-democracy legislators has quit his position on an advisory board to an international media freedom group because of concerns over his role on the city’s top court.

Lord David Neuberger, a non-permanent overseas judge on Hong Kong’s highest court, announced his decision to step down as chairman of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom in a statement dated Wednesday.