Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma To Step Down In 2021

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma is set to retire as Hong Kong’s top judge in January 2021 when he turns 65, after what would be a decade-long span at the helm of the judiciary.

In a statement, Ma said "I consider it to have been the greatest honour in my life to be able to serve the Hong Kong community and to lead the judiciary. This I will continue to do until my last day in office."

He said he made the decision to retire in January, and that stepping down will both be conducive to succession planning and fit in with his personal wishes to spend more time with his family.

Ma was appointed a judge of the Court of First Instance in 2001, and was promoted to the Chief Judge of the High Court two years later, before succeeding the SAR’s first Chief Justice Andrew Li in September 2010.

"I believe that my retirement at age 65 is in the best interests of the Judiciary… By January 2021, I will have completed more than 10 years' service as Chief Justice and nearly 20 years as a judge. I consider it is appropriate for there to be a change in the leadership of the judiciary after such a period”, he said.

The judiciary said it expects it to take at least nine months to complete the process of appointing a successor, and work will begin as soon as possible.

Ma will himself lead the process as the chairman of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, which will be responsible for recommending a replacement.

“I am confident that my successor will carry on the mission of upholding the rule of law and maintaining the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong”, Ma said.

“As I have stated many times before, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are cornerstones of our community. The work of our courts means that judges strictly adhere to the law and the spirit of the law. No other factors will influence the work of the courts”, he concluded.

The statement adds that Ma has informed the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, of his intention to step down. The Judiciary said it hopes the appointment process can be completed by next summer, to allow enough time for a smooth transition.

Ma was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in June 2012.

Carrie Lam said in a statement that she “fully respects” Ma’s decision to retire, paying tribute to his “sterling contribution to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.”

Lam also said the government will continue to support Ma’s successor and other members of the judiciary in discharging its functions.

"I should like to thank Chief Justice Ma profusely for his exemplary leadership in maintaining the highest professional standards, in spearheading reforms and in enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the Judiciary during his tenure. These are conducive to maintaining the continued international acclaim of Hong Kong's judicial system," Lam said.

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