ADMISSION OF UK SOLICITORS
A
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1989
QUALIFIED
AT PRESENT A SOLICITOR
IN THE ELIGIBLE FOR AUTOMATIC ADMISSION WITHOUT FURTHER FGARDLESS OF HOW LONG HE HAS LIVED IN HONG KONG.
QUALIFICATION
UNITED KINGDOM IS AND
THE PRESENT SITUATION REFLECTS THE HISTORICAL POSITION, WHICH OTAINED BEFORE HONG KONG BEGAN TO TRAIN LAWYERS LOCALLY, WHEN ONLY UK-QUALIFIED LAWYERS COULD BE ADMITTED TO PRACTISE HONG KONG LAW.
THE GOVERNMENT NOW PROPOSES THAT THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS CRDINANCE BE AMENDED SO THAT A UK SOLICITOR SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY EFORE HE CAN APPLY FOR ADMISSION AND FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS (WHICH CAN INCLUDE THE PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS) BEFORE HE CAN APPLY FOR AN UNCONDITIONAL PRACTISING CERTIFICATE.
1
"IT IS THOUGHT DESIRABLE TO IMPOSE A MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR UK SOLICITORS WISHING TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG ΤΟ ENSURE AT LEAST SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL CONDITIONS, THR SPOKESMAN SAID.
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ADMISSION OF UK BARRISTERS
BARRISTERS QUALIFIED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HONG KONG BAR WITHOUT FURTHER EXAMINATION OR QUALIFICATIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE TO RESTRICT THE RIGHT OF ADMISSION TO AN APPLICANT WHO HAS HAD THREE YEARS' PRACTICE IN THE UK (THE "THREE YEARS HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENT; OR HAS HONG KONG AS HIS OF DOMICILE; OR HAS BEEN ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN HONG LEAST SEVEN YEARS.
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RULE" }; OR A NATURAL PLACE KONG FOR AT
COMMENTING ON THE "THREE YEARS RULE" THE CJ'S COMMITTEE SAID IT APPEARS TO BE "A RECOGNITION BY OMELCO OF THE CONCERNS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED AT THE DANGER THAT UK ADMISSIONS, IF TOO EASILY GRANTED, MAY DETER HONG KONG QUALIFIED LAWYERS, ON WHOM THE FUTURE STRENGTH OF THE PROFESSION MUST MAINLY RELY, FROM JOINING IT."
J
COMMONWEALTH QUALIFIED LAWYERS
COMMONWEALTH
THERE ARE AT PRESENT LAWYERS QUALIFIED IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS WORKING IN THE JUDICIARY OR THE GOVERNMENT LEGAL SERVICE. THEY WERE RECRUITED IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITING SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF LAWYERS QUALIFIED IN HONG KONG AND HONG KONG CHINESE LAWYERS
THE
UK. MORE RECENTLY, THEY INCLUDE QUALIFIED IN COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES.
/UNDER THE