The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall maintain the previous system of __________ of members of the judiciary other than judges.

The correct answer focuses on the maintenance of a specific mechanism for members of the judiciary other than judges within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The phrase “removal” directly addresses the procedures and grounds on which members of the judiciary, excluding judges, can be dismissed or removed from their positions.

Importantly, the Basic Law of Hong Kong establishes the legal framework that ensures the independence of the judiciary and delineates the processes by which judicial members would be subject to removal, thereby providing safeguards against arbitrary dismissal. This underlines the necessity for transparency and fairness in the judicial system, which is vital for maintaining the rule of law.

The other choices, while relevant to the functions and operations of the judiciary, do not specifically pertain to the continuity of processes that deal with removal. Appointment refers to how judicial members are chosen, whereas recruitment involves the processes to bring in new members, and evaluation pertains to assessing performance. None of these terms capture the essential mechanism of removal, which is crucial in maintaining the integrity and independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong.