Carrie Lam, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday congratulated the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, on his assumption of office, and pledged her continued support for the judiciary.

"I congratulate Chief Justice Cheung on his assumption of office today. I am confident that, under Chief Justice Cheung's leadership, the Judiciary will continue to be a bulwark of the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy and our judges will continue to safeguard the law and administer justice without fear or favor," Lam said in a statement.

Lam vowed that she will continue to "steadfastly safeguard judicial independence," stressing that "there is no conflict between an executive-led system and an independent Judiciary."