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5At its 75th year, the symbol of a diamond is remarkably apt for the Hong Kong Bar Association (%u201cHKBA%u201d). Not only has the HKBA enjoyed the longevity this volume celebrates, the work of its members is of course highly valued. This goes far beyond the benefits that clients and courts derive from their work in individual cases to the very core of Hong Kong%u2019s rule of law. Justice without fear, favour or prejudice must of course begin with independent legal advice, and it is the benefit of this independent legal advice, coupled with the tradition of fearless advocacy, that is one of the strongest arguments for the maintenance of an independent Bar.As members of the HKBA well know, life at the independent Bar is not easy. It is highly competitive, and fortunes are remarkably uncertain %u2013 perhaps a reflection of the challenges the Bar in Hong Kong has overcome during the course of the last 75 years. But, from these conditions emerge, I believe, some of the best counsel in the common law world, which has helped Hong Kong secure its standing as an international hub for dispute resolution. The HKBA has also made a significant contribution to the Bench, with the majority of judges and judicial officers (including myself) starting their legal careers as members of the Bar. It is thus a point of pride, not just as Chief Justice, but as a former member of the HKBA, to be able to pen the foreword to this volume. The continuity of the common law system is guaranteed under the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (%u201cHKSAR%u201d), as are the rights to fair trial and choice of legal representation, which the HKBA makes important contributions towards. As was affirmed on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the common law system of Hong Kong shall continue under the %u2018One Country, Two Systems%u2019 arrangement. No doubt that the HKBA and its members shall continue to make significant contributions to Hong Kong%u2019s rule of law. After all, diamonds are forever, and hopefully, so shall the HKBA be!Andrew CheungChief JusticeForeword