Judicial independence key: HK’s new top judge Reuters, HONG KONG Hong Kong’s new top judge yesterday stressed the importance of the territory’s judicial independence and rule of law, describing them as crucial to business confidence and the international reputation of the global business hub. Andrew Cheung (張舉能) made his remarks hours after he was sworn in to replace Geoffrey Ma (馬道立), 65, who is retiring after a decade as chief justice in the former British colony. Cheung, 59, takes office at a pivotal moment for the territory’s judges amid rising political pressures and the new National Security Law imposed by Beijing.