CJ Expresses Concern Over Understanding Of The Law

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma on Saturday expressed concern that some members of the public have lost sight of the responsibility of the courts.

He said they have forgotten the fact that judges make decisions based only on the law and not their personal opinions - political or otherwise.

Ma said in recent years, it appeared that some people's confidence in the legal system was "largely, if not wholly" dependent on whether or not the rulings matched their own views. He said leaders of the legal profession should do more to help the public understand how the law operates.

Ma also warned that any legal system, no matter how good it is, will fail unless it has the confidence of the community.

He was speaking at a ceremony in the Court of Final Appeal for the admission of four new senior counsel.