CJ - 20090903

The Honorable Chief Justice Li announced his plan of early retirement in September 2010 yesterday. Everybody is shocked.

Having been worked as s support staff in the Judiciary, I have seen CJ in person, under the occasions of the presentation ceremony of long and meritorious service awards, as well as the Judiciary day camp.

I must say, CJ bears the impeccable look as the Chief Justice.

Being a tall man, CJ is always meticulously dressed, with the saville row suit perfectly put on. Educated in Cambridge, with a LLM under his belt, CJ is a gentleman, with the scholar aura exulted in any situation. With his full and undyed silver hair neatly combed, and a pair of thin metal-rimmed spectacles elegantly hung on his face, CJ is the totem of the Judiciary.

With such a gentleman representing the Judiciary of Hong Kong, its independence is unworried beyond reasonable doubt. The case regarding rights of abode was iconic, though regrettably overturned by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress ultimately. It nevertheless proved the stiffness of CJ's backbone.

We will miss him.

P.S. 林兆鑫 was sentenced to 25 months imprisonment re his conviction of "misconduct in public office". We should be proud of our judicial independence.