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Geoffrey Ma

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1375: 79: 593:, which came into effect in April 2009 and is aimed at lowering legal costs and improving assess to justice. Addressing almost 200 legal professionals at a forum in April 2010, Ma criticised judges for being too lenient in civil proceedings with time-wasting parties and encouraged judges to fully use their new case management power under the Civil Justice Reform to ensure expediency. He also warned lawyers against devising new tactics to make civil proceedings unnecessarily lengthy and inefficient. 733:. "He is strong in public law. He has the competence to protect constitutional rights," Law said. "Of course we were disappointed about some cases, but I don't think he is going out of the way to side with the government. I hope he understands that his role is very important. Hong Kong doesn't have democracy. We expect there is at least one branch of government that serves as the last protector of our rights and interests." 709:
believed Ma will continue to defend the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary, but described him as sometimes a little too "conservative." Tong cited an appeal from September 2009 when Ma and fellow judges criticised the government for not disclosing information but eventually ruled in favour of an
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thanked him for his staunch commitment and relentless efforts in safeguarding the rule of law and promoting the international status of the Judiciary, particularly among common law jurisdictions. She also commended his sterling contribution in enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency
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Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal, chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings), deputy chairman of the SFC Appeals Panel, and deputy chairman of the SFC Takeovers Appeals Committee. Ma is a patron of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law; he is also a patron of the International Advocacy Training
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Ma was born in Hong Kong in 1956, the son of an electrical engineer. His great-grandfather was the imam of the Muslim community in Shanghai before the Second Sino-Japanese War. His parents moved to Hong Kong from Tianjin in the late 1940s. In the 1960s, after Geoffrey was born, his family moved to
928: 761:. They have one daughter. To avoid any possible conflict of interest, Ma would not hear appeals from cases in which Yuen has sat, nor would he deal with any administrative matter concerning her. 1404: 714:
practitioners on "security grounds." Also, in December 2008, he was part of a Court of Appeal panel that overturned a lower court ruling that acquitted the operators of
1155: 936: 1071: 1331: 1209: 1085: 958: 629:, a member of the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board, a member of the High Court Civil Court Users Committee, a member of the 1419: 1072:"The Hon Chief Justice Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Appointed as Honorary Professor of the HKU Law | Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong" 582:. In 2002, Ma was elevated to the position of Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court. In July 2003, he was appointed as 1340: 1291: 1238: 615: 604: 583: 488: 472: 179: 94: 551:
in 1993. During his time as a barrister, Ma was instructed for many high-profile cases. He represented the Director of Immigration in
1324: 1266: 1159: 622: 148: 1086:"CUHK Appoints Former Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma as Honorary Professor of Law | CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office" 671:
In October 2019, Ma announced his intention to step down from his position as Chief Justice in January 2021, when he turns 65.
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CUHK Appoints Former Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma as Honorary Professor of Law | CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office
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accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission to appoint Ma as the successor to the current
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in 2004, making him the third person in Hong Kong conferred with such honour. He was made an honorary fellow of
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in 2012; he also serves as a member of the advisory board of the Commercial Law Centre at the college.
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Ma had a number of public appointments, which include serving as an associate member of the
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Since retiring, Ma has returned to private practise as an arbitrator and mediator in
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stressed that Ma commands "deep respect" and is "eminently qualified". Similarly,
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was conferred on him by the French Government in 2015. He was elected an honorary
675: 504: 625:, an honorary lecturer of the Department of Professional Legal Education of the 547:, Australia and Singapore in 1980, 1983 and 1990 respectively. He was appointed 699: 520:
Manchester in the United Kingdom, where he went to Altrincham Grammar School.
78: 42: 20: 678:, Hong Kong (where he was Head of Chambers before joining the judiciary), and 1388: 1363: 1301: 1252: 988: 665: 650: 611: 536: 226: 202: 141: 600: 471:; born 11 January 1956) is a retired Hong Kong judge who served as the 2nd 393: 117: 29: 729:
Director Law Yuk-kai said he was pleased to see Ma's rich experience in
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in Hong Kong. Between 2001 and 2010, he held various positions in the
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in England and Wales; he was then called to Bar in Hong Kong,
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in December 2000. In December 2001, Ma became a Judge of the
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in June 2012 by the Hong Kong Government, and the title of
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Chief justices of the Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong)
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After Ma announced his retirement as Chief Justice,
1156:"HK top judge nominee praised as good for rights" 959:"Chief Judge elected Gray's Inn Honorary Bencher" 710:Immigration Department decision to deny entry to 1386: 1010:"Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma to step down in 2021" 1325: 1130:"New chief justice gives oath on lawyer wife" 589:Ma was also a member of the Working Party on 368: 354: 1054:"The Hon Geoffrey Ma | Brick Court Chambers" 789: 787: 1341:Chief Justices of the Court of Final Appeal 1186:Hong Kong's Information Services Department 878: 596:On 8 April 2010, it was announced that the 514: 481:the court of last resort (or supreme court) 107:1 September 2010 – 11 January 2021 1332: 1318: 1292:Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal 927:Phila Siu and Colleen Lee (10 June 2010). 660:On 15 November 2016, Ma was elected as an 643:Officier de l’Ordre de la Legion d’Honneur 605:Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal 539:in London and commenced his practice as a 95:Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal 77: 1153: 1127: 784: 1104:"Geoffrey Ma named as new Chief Justice" 838:. Hong Kong Government. 14 November 2002 816:. Hong Kong Government. 28 November 2000 623:London Maritime Arbitrators Association 499:. Before his judicial career, he was a 1420:Alumni of the University of Birmingham 1387: 1267:Designated National Security Law Judge 858:"Next Chief Justice criticises judges" 511:, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore. 192:14 July 2003 – 31 August 2010 149:Designated National Security Law Judge 1313: 920: 535:In 1978, Ma was called to the Bar by 1123: 1121: 929:"Ma confirmed as next chief justice" 908:. Hong Kong Government. 8 April 2010 808: 806: 804: 802: 753:, who is a Justice of Appeal of the 527:. He graduated with an LLB in 1977. 1182:"Andrew Cheung named Chief Justice" 507:, and was qualified to practice in 13: 1158:. Associated Press. Archived from 14: 1436: 1203: 1118: 898: 814:"Appointment of High Court Judge" 799: 655:Harris Manchester College, Oxford 1373: 1174: 1147: 1096: 1078: 1064: 1046: 1036:"Geoffrey Ma – Temple Chambers" 1028: 1002: 977: 688:Chinese University of Hong Kong 530: 477:Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal 434: 420: 951: 881:"New chief warns time wasters" 872: 850: 828: 770: 727:Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor 468: 399: 369: 355: 1: 879:Colleen Lee (16 April 2010). 794:Mr Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-Li 764: 690:'s respective law faculties. 616:Chief Judge of the High Court 584:Chief Judge of the High Court 180:Chief Judge of the High Court 741:of judicial administration. 718:of unlicensed broadcasting. 693: 7: 68: 10: 1441: 1154:Joyce Woo (9 April 2010). 1128:Patsy Moy (9 April 2010). 631:Hong Kong Futures Exchange 18: 1425:Hong Kong Queen's Counsel 1371: 1347: 1298: 1289: 1281: 1273: 1264: 1259: 1249: 1236: 1228: 1223: 744: 723:Hong Kong Bar Association 445: 427: 413: 406: 392: 385: 380: 376: 362: 348: 344: 339: 331: 319: 309: 287: 282: 278: 267: 255: 244: 233:Justice of Appeal of the 232: 220: 208: 196: 185: 177: 165: 154: 147: 135: 123: 111: 100: 92: 88: 76: 67: 40: 1415:Hong Kong Senior Counsel 1188:(in Chinese (Hong Kong)) 558:He was appointed by the 553:the right of abode cases 525:University of Birmingham 515:Early life and education 350:Traditional Chinese 326:University of Birmingham 684:University of Hong Kong 627:University of Hong Kong 576:Court of First Instance 568:Court of First Instance 503:in private practice at 497:Court of First Instance 485:High Court of Hong Kong 364:Simplified Chinese 258:Court of First Instance 1215:Justice Ma's biography 836:"Judicial Appointment" 610:. Ma was succeeded by 523:Ma studied Law at the 860:. RTHK. 15 April 2010 796:Birmingham Law School 1106:. RTHK. 8 April 2010 1058:www.brickcourt.co.uk 680:Brick Court Chambers 639:Grand Bauhinia Medal 591:Civil Justice Reform 637:He was awarded the 560:Hong Kong Judiciary 495:, and Judge of the 1040:templechambers.com 721:Nevertheless, the 452:Geoffrey Ma Tao-li 47:Geoffrey Ma Tao-li 1382: 1381: 1308: 1307: 1299:Succeeded by 1274:Succeeded by 1250:Succeeded by 1016:. 31 October 2019 749:Ma is married to 545:State of Victoria 509:England and Wales 493:Justice of Appeal 449: 448: 441: 440: 415:Yale Romanization 387:Standard Mandarin 335: 334: 304:British Hong Kong 1432: 1410:Hong Kong judges 1377: 1334: 1327: 1320: 1311: 1310: 1282:Preceded by 1229:Preceded by 1221: 1220: 1198: 1197: 1195: 1193: 1178: 1172: 1171: 1169: 1167: 1151: 1145: 1144: 1142: 1140: 1125: 1116: 1115: 1113: 1111: 1100: 1094: 1093: 1082: 1076: 1075: 1068: 1062: 1061: 1050: 1044: 1043: 1032: 1026: 1025: 1023: 1021: 1006: 1000: 999: 997: 995: 981: 975: 974: 972: 970: 955: 949: 948: 946: 944: 935:. 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Retrieved 772: 748: 735: 720: 697: 673: 670: 659: 636: 620: 601:Donald Tsang 595: 588: 557: 534: 531:Legal career 522: 518: 487:, including 451: 450: 394:Hanyu Pinyin 269: 246: 222:Succeeded by 215:Arthur Leong 198:Appointed by 187: 167:Appointed by 156: 137:Succeeded by 118:Donald Tsang 113:Appointed by 102: 35: 28: 1395:1956 births 1360:(2010–2021) 1358:Geoffrey Ma 1354:(1997–2010) 1239:Chief Judge 686:'s and the 489:Chief Judge 435:Maa Dou lap 340:Geoffrey Ma 210:Preceded by 125:Preceded by 1389:Categories 1296:2010–2021 1276:Retirement 1271:2020–2021 1247:2003–2010 1243:High Court 1020:31 October 765:References 759:High Court 751:Maria Yuen 738:Carrie Lam 731:public law 712:Falun Gong 707:Ronny Tong 651:Gray's Inn 634:Council. 580:High Court 572:High Court 537:Gray's Inn 321:Alma mater 314:Maria Yuen 294:1956-01-11 262:High Court 239:High Court 172:Carrie Lam 83:Ma in 2017 1352:Andrew Li 1285:Andrew Li 703:Audrey Eu 694:Reception 608:Andrew Li 541:barrister 274:2001–2002 270:In office 251:2002–2003 247:In office 188:In office 161:2020–2021 157:In office 130:Andrew Li 103:In office 1366:(2021– ) 1192:18 April 1166:26 April 1139:26 April 1110:26 April 890:26 April 864:26 April 564:Recorder 429:Jyutping 400:Mǎ Dàolì 93:2nd 19:In this 1241:of the 969:7 April 943:10 June 912:8 April 842:7 April 820:7 April 757:of the 664:of the 647:bencher 578:of the 570:of the 566:of the 475:of the 260:of the 237:of the 25:surname 1217:gov.hk 994:12 May 745:Family 310:Spouse 23:, the 462: 458: 58: 54: 1194:2020 1168:2010 1141:2010 1112:2010 1022:2019 1014:RTHK 996:2022 971:2010 945:2010 914:2010 892:2010 866:2010 844:2010 822:2010 705:and 288:Born 178:3rd 649:of 614:as 562:as 469:馬道立 456:GBM 370:马道立 356:馬道立 70:馬道立 52:GBM 27:is 1391:: 1184:. 1132:. 1120:^ 1088:. 1056:. 1038:. 1012:. 987:. 931:. 883:. 801:^ 786:^ 668:. 586:. 491:, 464:SC 460:KC 296:) 60:SC 56:KC 30:Ma 1333:e 1326:t 1319:v 1196:. 1170:. 1143:. 1114:. 1092:. 1074:. 1060:. 1042:. 1024:. 998:. 973:. 947:. 916:. 894:. 868:. 846:. 824:. 780:. 479:— 292:(

Index

Hong Kong name
surname
Ma
The Honourable
GBM
KC
SC

Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
Donald Tsang
Andrew Li
Andrew Cheung
Designated National Security Law Judge
Carrie Lam
Chief Judge of the High Court
Tung Chee Hwa
Arthur Leong
Andrew Cheung
Court of Appeal
High Court
Court of First Instance
High Court
British Hong Kong
Maria Yuen
Alma mater
University of Birmingham
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin

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