On Friday's Backchat, judicial reform.

In an online legal forum on Tuesday, the deputy director of Hong Kong Macao Affairs Office Zhang Xiaoming called for a revamp in Hong Kong, saying that "Even in Western countries, judicial systems have to catch up with the times and reform constantly" and adding that any changes would not affect judicial independence.

In recent weeks, pro-establishment figures and pro-Beijing media have repeatedly demanded reform, as they accused magistrates of being biased against the police and government, and of handing down lenient sentences to people who took part in the SAR's social unrest. And on Thursday the High Court ruled that the existing mechanism to handle police complaints is in breach of the Bill of Rights on torture and cruel treatment, bringing further conflict between the judiciary and the Administration.

Ronny Tong says any reform must come from within the legal sector. What does he mean?

Zhang cited Henry Litton, who has said the judiciary must regain Beijing's trust. What does he mean?

Do we need a judicial oversight committee?

Let us know your thoughts, you can leave a message on our Facebook Backchat on RTHK Radio 3, email us at backchat@rthk.hk or give us a call on 23388266.



Grenville Cross, former Director of Public Prosecutions

Michael Davis, Global Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Cen-ter in Washington; Former Professor of Law, University of Hong Kong

Jerome A. Cohen is a law professor at New York University, facul-ty director of its US-Asia Law Institute and adjunct senior fellow at the Council on For-eign Relations

Andrew Leung, former Director-General of Social Welfare of HK government and is now an international and independent China Strategist