As Hong Kong lawyers chose a council to govern their profession, overshadowed by a national security law imposed by China, the territory's former chief judge urged them to continue speaking up for the rule of law, saying it was their public duty and not political.
Former chief justice Geoffrey Ma made his remarks to several hundred members of the Law Society on Tuesday, and later provided a transcript of the speech in response to questions.
Hong Kong judges symbolize one of the core promises of the city's return from British to Chinese rule in 1997 along with continued freedoms: the right to a fair trial and equality under the law, all administered by an independent judiciary.