Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li has led the judiciary through challenging times. He will depart next week after a decade at the helm. During his tenure, Ma has provided strong and consistent support for judicial independence and the rule of law. His retirement, announced in 2019, comes during a critical period for the courts with attacks on judges over their rulings and calls for judicial reform. Ma did not shy away from these issues in his farewell meeting with the media on Tuesday. If people want reform, he said, they must provide details so the judiciary can consider them. But it is not acceptable to call for change just because you don’t like certain court rulings. He is right on both counts. Every institution needs to reform in order to improve, modernise and adapt to changes in society. The judiciary is no different. But if calls are to be made for reform, there is a need to clearly identify problems before seeking solutions. There have been many unfounded allegations that a judge in this or that case is biased, politically motivated, or too lenient or harsh. This does not provide a sound basis for reform. Changes motivated by a desire to see the courts rule one way or another in sensitive cases will not, as Ma said, be satisfactory or enjoy public support. ‘Judicial reforms shouldn’t be based on unhappiness over court rulings’ There are many areas in which judicial reform might occur. But the process should be approached with caution, given the importance of the role played by the courts in upholding the rule of law. Any reforms should be handled by the judiciary and aim to make the courts easier to access, less expensive, and more transparent. Changes should seek to improve efficiency and embrace the use of the latest technology. Reform must not be motivated by political considerations. Whatever changes are made, judicial independence must be maintained. This, as Ma said, is the ability to deliver fair and impartial judgments without fear or favour. The courts must not be swayed by political pressure of any kind. The chief justice has, in recent years, repeatedly and patiently sought to explain how the courts make their decisions. Sadly, his words have fallen on deaf ears. Most of the invective aimed at the judges has been ill-informed and politically motivated. Critics are not interested in the reasoning, only in whether their side won. Over the years, the judiciary has had to adapt to many changes, from the Bill of Rights in 1991, to the Basic Law in 1997 and the national security law last year. A new chapter begins next week with Ma’s departure. We trust his successor, Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, will be given the time and space to build on the foundations laid since the handover. The judiciary, like any other institution, has to adapt to changing times. But in doing so, it must ensure judicial independence and the rule of law are maintained.