Geoffrey Ma
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Ma Tao-li is currently the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
of Hong Kong
, who ranks second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
in the Hong Kong order of precedence
.
Before his judicial appointment, he was a barrister-at-law who was qualified to practise in England and Wales, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore.
, Geoffrey Ma received his education near Manchester
, England. In 1974, he started his studies at the University of Birmingham
and graduated with an LLB in 1977. In 1978, he was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn
in London
and commenced his practice as a Barrister
in England and Wales.
, State of Victoria, Australia
and Singapore
in 1980, 1983 and 1990 respectively. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1993. He was the Head of Chambers of Temple Chambers in Hong Kong prior to his judicial appointment.
He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Recorder
of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in December 2000. In December 2001, Ma became a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. 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 Chief Judge of the High Court in Hong Kong.
Ma was also a member of the Working Party on Civil Justice Reform, 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 utilize 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.
On 8 April 2010, it was announced that Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Donald Tsang
has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission to appoint Ma as the successor to the current Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
Andrew Li
. On 9 June 2010, his appointment was approved by the Legislative Council by a majority vote.
Ma had a number of public appointments, which include serving as an Associate Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association
, an Honorary lecturer of the Department of Professional Legal Education of the University of Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong Futures Exchange
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.
He was elected an Honorary Bencher
of Gray's Inn
in 2004, making him the third person in Hong Kong conferred with such honour.
Audrey Eu
and Ronny Tong
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 criticized the government for not disclosing information but eventually ruled in favor of an Immigration Department decision to deny entry to Falun Gong
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 Citizens' Radio
of unlicensed broadcasting.
On the other hand, the Hong Kong Bar Association
said in a statement Ma commands "deep respect" and is "eminently qualified". Similarly, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
Director Law Yuk-kai said he was pleased to see Ma's rich experience in public law. "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."
. 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.
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong is the head of and the most senior judge in the Hong Kong judiciary. The position is second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong order of precedence...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, who ranks second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
in the Hong Kong order of precedence
Hong Kong order of precedence
The Hong Kong order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Hong Kong. Administered by the government's Protocol Division, the hierarchy does not determine the order of succession for the office of Chief Executive, which is instead specified...
.
Before his judicial appointment, he was a barrister-at-law who was qualified to practise in England and Wales, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore.
Early life and education
Born in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Geoffrey Ma received his education near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England. In 1974, he started his studies at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
and graduated with an LLB in 1977. In 1978, he was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and commenced his practice as a Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in England and Wales.
Legal career
Ma was called to Bar in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, State of Victoria, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1980, 1983 and 1990 respectively. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1993. He was the Head of Chambers of Temple Chambers in Hong Kong prior to his judicial appointment.
He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in December 2000. In December 2001, Ma became a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. 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 Chief Judge of the High Court in Hong Kong.
Ma was also a member of the Working Party on Civil Justice Reform, 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 utilize 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.
On 8 April 2010, it was announced that Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission to appoint Ma as the successor to the current Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong is the head of and the most senior judge in the Hong Kong judiciary. The position is second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong order of precedence...
Andrew Li
Andrew Li
Andrew Li Kwok-nang, CBE, GBM, JP is the former Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, a post he held from the 1997 Hong Kong handover until 31 August 2010 inclusive. He is succeeded by Geoffrey Ma.-Early life and education:...
. On 9 June 2010, his appointment was approved by the Legislative Council by a majority vote.
Ma had a number of public appointments, which include serving as an Associate Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association
London Maritime Arbitrators Association
The London Maritime Arbitrators Association is a maritime arbitration association headquartered in London, United Kingdom.-Past presidents:* Malcolm T. Browne * A.S. Bunker * R.A.H. Clyde * J. Chesterman...
, an Honorary lecturer of the Department of Professional Legal Education of the University of Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong Futures Exchange
Hong Kong Futures Exchange
Hong Kong Futures Exchange was a futures exchange in Hong Kong. Established in 1976, it offered a variety of options and futures contracts, linked to stock market indices, stocks, short term interest rates, and foreign exchange.-History:...
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.
He was elected an Honorary Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 2004, making him the third person in Hong Kong conferred with such honour.
Reception
Legislator and Senior CounselSenior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
Audrey Eu
Audrey Eu
Yuet Mee Audrey Eu , LLB, LLM, SC, JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and the former leader of the Civic Party.-Education and legal career:...
and Ronny Tong
Ronny Tong
Ronny Tong Ka-wah QC, SC is a Senior Counsel and current member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , representing the New Territories East constituency. He is also a member of the Civic Party Executive Committee....
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 criticized the government for not disclosing information but eventually ruled in favor of an Immigration Department decision to deny entry to Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline first introduced in China in 1992 by its founder, Li Hongzhi, through public lectures. It combines the practice of meditation and slow-moving qigong exercises with the moral philosophy...
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 Citizens' Radio
Citizens' Radio
Citizens' Radio is a radio station in Hong Kong established by pro-democracy camp figure Tsang Kin Shing . The station is run as a non-profit organization. It started trial broadcasting on 3 October 2005 on 102.8 MHz FM. The regular broadcasting hours are 7:00 pm–8:00 pm from Monday...
of unlicensed broadcasting.
On the other hand, the Hong Kong Bar Association
Hong Kong Bar Association
The Hong Kong Bar Association is the professional regulatory body for barristers in Hong Kong, and was founded in 1949. Like other professional bodies, the HKBA has the authority to take disciplinary action to the members who breach the Code of Conduct of the Association...
said in a statement Ma commands "deep respect" and is "eminently qualified". Similarly, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor is a local non-governmental organization which was established in April 1995. It aims at promoting better human rights protection in Hong Kong in the aspect of legislation and people's everyday life....
Director Law Yuk-kai said he was pleased to see Ma's rich experience in public law. "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."
Family
Geoffrey Ma is married to Maria Yuen Ka-ning, who is a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High CourtHigh Court (Hong Kong)
The High Court in Hong Kong consists of the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance. It deals with criminal and civil cases which have risen beyond the lower courts. It was named the Supreme Court before 1997.- High Court Building :...
. 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.