Former High Court of Australia chief justice Robert French has quit Hong Kong’s top court, becoming the latest in a string of foreign judges to resign after Beijing’s national security crackdown.

Robert French, the former chief justice of the High Court of Australia, has made headlines with his resignation from Hong Kong's highest judicial authority, the Court of Final Appeal (CFA). This departure adds to a growing list of foreign judges who have stepped down amid increasing scrutiny of Hong Kong's judiciary, especially following the implementation of Beijing's national security laws. French's resignation highlights the tension between judicial independence and political influence in Hong Kong, underscoring the concerns voiced by activists regarding the legitimacy of a legal system perceived to be compromised by the Chinese government’s stricter controls. French served as a non-permanent judge on the CFA since 2017 and had a term set to expire in May 2026. His recent statement reveals a profound concern about the role of foreign judges in the current political climate, suggesting that their positions may have become largely symbolic. French emphasized his respect for the judiciary while also distancing himself from direct comments on the contentious national security laws that have sparked significant outcry internationally and domestically. A notable point in his resignation was his assertion that he does not believe remaining judges are complicit in supporting a compromised judicial framework. The dynamics surrounding foreign judges’ roles in Hong Kong have been likened to ‘canaries in the coal mine,’ serving as indicators of the erosion of judicial independence. French's exit resonates with broader discontent regarding recent rulings, notably the sentencing of Australian citizen Gordon Ng under the national security law, which has fueled debate on the legitimacy of the CFA under its current operations. Also concerning is the intervention of the Australian Foreign Minister, who publicly issued a call for judges to reconsider their participation in a system that many now view as increasingly politicized. As foreign judges continue to depart, the pool on the CFA has dwindled from 15 to a mere few, raising alarms about the future of judicial independence in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government’s official stance expresses regret over French's resignation while assuring the public of its commitment to uphold the rule of law, although the reality is that external perceptions of judicial efficacy are deeply compromised. This resignation is not merely a personal decision but a reflection of a broader existential crisis facing Hong Kong's judiciary in light of increasing governmental oversight. In analyzing this situation, it becomes evident that the ongoing political strife is not just about individual judges but fundamentally about the credibility and functionality of the judiciary itself as a bulwark against authoritarian governance, making French's resignation a potent symbol of the immense challenges that lie ahead for the legal landscape in Hong Kong.