How former High Court chief justice Robert French gave up on Hong Kong
After years defending his role on Hong Kong’s top court, French has quietly stepped down. He’s not saying exactly why.
The resignation of former High Court chief justice Robert French from Hong Kong’s top court last week will no doubt please Foreign Minister Penny Wong — but is it good for Australia?
Four months after saying he was staying on, French decided he no longer wanted to be a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong Final Court of Appeal (HKCFA).
French had served on the court since 2017, the year he left the High Court. His most recent three-year term was set to run until May 2026. The three other Australians on the court — Bill Gummow, Patrick Keane and James Allsop — have shown no indication they intend to follow him out the door.
In December, after Wong urged the Australian judges to “consider” their positions after an Australian was jailed under Hong Kong’s national security legislation, French said he had not reached his breaking point.
