Former top judge McLachlin to end term in Hong Kong court [Video]

Canada’s former top judge is ending her term on a high-level Hong Kong court, saying she has faith in that institution while keeping mum on democratic backsliding in the city-state.

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Beverley McLachlin served as Canada’s chief justice from 2000 to 2017 and joined the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal a year later.

In recent years, Hong Kong civil society has reported a steady crackdown on democracy in the former British colony, which had been returned to Chinese rule with an understanding that its laws would allow for more freedom than in mainland China.

Two British judges on the court resigned last week, with one saying he stepped down because the city is sliding into totalitarian rule and its rule of law is in “grave danger.”

But in a statement, McLachlin raised no concerns about Hong …