equip them for practising law in Hong Kong (either as barristers
or solicitors) have not yet been finalized, a Working Party on
Legal Education appointed by the former Chief Justice, Sir
Michael Hogan and the Vice-Chancellor of the University has
recommended that the graduates in law should be admitted to
practise after a course of vocational training undertaken in
Hong Kong. The implementation of these proposals (and its
rejection by the Government would seem unthinkable) would mean
that by 1974 persons who had received the entirety of their
academic and vocational training in law in Hong Kong would be
joining the ranks of the two branches of the legal profession
in Hong Kong.
6.
The Bar Association has been a staunch advocate of the
establishment of a Hong Kong qualification to practise at the
Bar and has sought in various ways to associate the law students
in the professional life of the Bar. The Bar Association
considers it vital for the healthy development of the community
that, persons of high calibre should be attracted to the legal
profession. As a practical demonstration of this concorn two
examples may be cited: In 1970, a booklet was published
entitled "A Career at the Hong Kong Bar" as a guide to students
explaining the profession of a barrister in Hong Kong, his work
and his place in society. In the same year, the Hong Kong Law
Journal (a legal periodical published three times a year) was
launched. In both instances the impetus and resources came
largely from members of the Bar.
7.
To ensure the healthy growth of the profession in Hong
Kong, the Bar Committee holds the view that the members of the
practising Bar in Hong Kong and those proposing to enter its
ranks are entitled to know, as do their colleagues in the United
Kingdom, what future prospects are open to them in their career.
One matter of increasing concern has been this: wholly
8.
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