3
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1989
UNDER THE EXISTING RULES THEY MAY PRACTISE HONG KONG LAW AS JUDICIAL OFFICERS OR AS MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT LEGAL SERVICE (THE LEGAL, LEGAL AID AND REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENTS} WITHOUT RESTRICTION. THEY ARE NOT. HOWEVER, ENTITLED TO PRACTISK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UNLESS THEY OBTAIN
CERTIFICATE LAWS (PCLL) AND, IN THE CASE OF SOLICITORS, ALSO UNDERGO TWO YEARS ARTICLED CLERKSHIP.
THE
POSTGRADUATE
OF OF
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE SO THAT EXPERIENCED BARRISTERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT LEGAL SERVICE WILL BE ENTITLED TO BE ADMITTED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE AS BARRISTERS AND PERMITTED TO PRACTISE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED FIRST TO OBTAIN A PCLL, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED IN A JURISDICTION LISTED IN A SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE. THE SCHEDULE LISTS THOSE SPECIFIC JURISDICTIONS FROM WHICH LAWYERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE HAVE BEEN RECRUITED IN THE PAST. COMMONWEALTH
ARE SCHEDULE AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, CANADA (EXCEPT QUEBEC) AND ZIMBABWE.
BE THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND WILL ALSO
INCLUDED BECAUSE OF THE HISTORICAL CONNECTION OF IRISH LAWYERS WITH HONG KONG;
JURISDICTIONS
LISTED IN THE
*
THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS' RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG;
+
*
THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE JUDICIARY OR THE GOVERNMENT LEGAL SERVICE:
*
THE APPLICANT
SHOULD HAVE, FOR
YEARS, AT LEAST THREE UNDERTAKEN WORK APPROPRIATE TO A BARRISTER OF 10 YEARS' SENIORITY;
BEFORE ADMITTING AN APPLICANT UNDER THE
JUSTICE SHOULD CONSULT THE ASSOCIATION;
ATTORNEY GENERAL
SCHEME, THE CHIEF
AND THE
BAR
THERE SHOULD BE A QUOTA OF FIVE ADMISSIONS TO PRACTISE YEAR.
IN THE
BACH