HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s former chief judge urged solicitors to continue speaking up for the rule of law, saying it was their duty to the public and not political as they voted in a fractious election overshadowed by a national security law imposed by China. Former chief justice Geoffrey Ma made his remarks to several hundred members of the Law Society on Tuesday and later provided Reuters with a transcript of the speech in response to questions. Hong Kong judges symbolize one of the core promises of the city’s return from British to Chinese rule in 1997 along with continued freedoms: the right to a fair trial and equality under the law, all administered by an independent judiciary. Senior government officials, led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and pro-Beijing media had warned the society against becoming “political,” accusing some candidates of bias. Ma told the society that lawyers’ “owed duties” were …