1989 Ed.]
Legal Practitioners
PART II
SOLICITORS
[CAP. 159
7
3.
Power of Court to admit solicitors
(1) The Court may, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Chief Justice, admit as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong any person who is qualified for admission in accordance with this Ordinance and who-
(a) is a Commonwealth citizen; or (Amended 80 of 1982 s. 2)
(b) has been ordinarily resident in Hong Kong for a total period of not less than 7 years. (Amended 58 of 1976 s. 3)
(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person shall be treated as ordinarily resident in any one year if he is present in Hong Kong for a period of not less than 180 days in that year. (Added 58 of 1976 s. 3)
(1AA) The Court shall not admit a person under section 4(1)(a)(ii) unless-
(a) he has resided in Hong Kong for at least 3 months immediately before his admission;
(b) he is a Hong Kong permanent resident as defined in the Immigration Ordinance (Cap.115); or
(c) he has been ordinarily resident in Hong Kong for at least 7 years.
(Added 46 of 1989 s. 2)
(1AB) In addition to the powers conferred on it by subsection (1) and notwithstanding section 4(1), but subject to subsection (1AE), the Court may, after the Chief Justice has consulted the Attorney General and the Council, admit a person as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Chief Justice, if-
(a) the Court is satisfied that he-
(i) has been admitted as a solicitor in a jurisdiction listed in Schedule 1 or if there is no admission of solicitors in such jurisdiction, as a legal practitioner in that jurisdiction;
(ii) has been employed for at least 7 years in the public service of the Government as a legal officer;
(iii) has been so employed-
(A) for a period of at least 3 years; and
(B) either immediately or recently before the date of his application for admission,
on work similar to that usually undertaken by a solicitor in Hong Kong in the course of his practice;
(iv) intends, if admitted, to commence practice as a solicitor; and
(v) is a fit person to be a solicitor; and