Overview

• Robert French, former Chief Justice of Australia's High Court, has stepped down from his role as a non-permanent judge on Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal.
• French described the role of foreign judges on the court as increasingly outdated and symbolic, questioning their continued relevance in Hong Kong's legal system.
• He proposed a potential future role for international judges as part of an international commercial court in Hong Kong.
• This resignation is part of a broader trend, with the number of foreign judges on the court dropping from 15 to five since Beijing's 2020 national security law crackdown.
• The Hong Kong government expressed regret over French's departure but reiterated its commitment to judicial independence and the rule of law.