Law Society of Hong Kong

The Law Society of Hong Kong is the professional association and law society for solicitors in Hong Kong, established in 1907. The Law Society of Hong Kong is responsible for the classification and qualification of lawyers in Hong Kong. According to Hong Kong law, all Hong Kong solicitors must be members of this association.

The Law Society of Hong Kong
Formation1907
Legal statusCompany limited by guarantee
Headquarters3/F, Wing On House, 71 Des Voeux Rd Central, Central, Hong Kong
Region served
Hong Kong
President
C. M. Chan 陳澤銘
Budget
HK$105 Million (2017)
Websitehklawsoc.org.hk
Law Society of Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese香港律師會
Simplified Chinese香港律师会

The Law Society is currently headed by President C. M. Chan (陳澤銘) and is located on the third floor of Wing On House in Central.[1]

History

It was formed on 8 April 1907 as a company limited by guarantee, and was then known as The Incorporated Law Society of Hong Kong.[2] The present name was adopted in 1969.[3]

In 2014, the society underwent its first ever motion of no confidence in its president over his declared support for the white paper published by the PRC on the city's autonomy in which patriotism was a prerequisite for the territory's judges.[4] Ambrose Lam's declaration appeared to be at odds with sentiment of its members, a thousand of whom marched in response to the white paper.[5] Over 100 petitioners objected to Lam's politicisation of the Law Society, requesting that Lam withdraw his comments and reassert support for judicial independence. The tabler of the no confidence vote had expected Lam to be able to call on a large reservoir of proxy votes in his defence.[6] At a meeting called for 14 August 2014, Lam suffered a surprising defeat in the non-binding vote calling for him to resign.[7] The motion was carried by 2,392 votes to 1,478, with almost half its members voting in person or by proxy.[5] There had been complaints of members receiving external pressure from Chinese companies, the central government Liaison Office, and members of the CPPCC National Committee.[7] Lam resigned on 19 August 2014, with neither an apology nor a retraction.

President

On 5 January 2022, Carrie Lam announced new warnings and restrictions against social gathering due to potential COVID-19 outbreaks.[8] One day later, it was discovered that president Chan Chak-ming attended a birthday party hosted by Witman Hung Wai-man, with 222 guests.[9][10][11][12] At least one guest tested positive with COVID-19, causing many guests to be quarantined.[11]

In November 2022, president Chan Chak-ming said that he and 3 vice-presidents recently went overseas to dispel ideas that "there is no judicial independence, fair trials and free speech" in Hong Kong.[13]

In January 2023, after the NPCSC gave the Chief Executive power to ban foreign lawyers in response to Jimmy Lai attempting to hire Tim Owen, Chan said the NPCSC's decision was a "good example" of the government's commitment to implementing One Country, Two Systems.[14]

Structure

The society is divided into two bodies:[3]

  • The Council – the governing body of the society and consists of 20 members with 2 vice-presidents and 1 president.
  • The Secretariat – the body responsible for the standing committees within the society and has around 100 staff.

Profile of the profession

As of 30 September 2018, the Law Society regulates 9,708 solicitors in Hong Kong with a current practising certificate.[3]

Structure of the profession
  • 7,167 solicitors were in private practice in 908 firms.
  • Of these firms:
  • 2,805 were in partnerships or were sole practitioners.
  • 4,362 solicitors are assistant solicitors or consultants in firms.
  • 2,032 solicitors worked with private businesses (in-house) or in government (Department of Justice, etc.).

Foreign lawyers

Foreign lawyers in Hong Kong come from 33 jurisdictions (at 30 September 2018)

  • 433 foreign lawyers employed by 85 foreign firms.
  • 1,100 foreign lawyers employed in local law firms.

Gender
  • Of all practising solicitors, 54% were men and 46% were women.
  • However, of the 934 trainee solicitors, 40% were men and 60% were women.

Ethnicity

Finance

In 2006, the Society's income was HK$86.0 million, HK$46.26 million being raised through annual practising certificate fees and membership subscriptions.

In 2007, the Society's income was HK$91.6 million, HK$47.7 million being raised through annual practising certificate fees and membership subscriptions.

The fee for a practising certificate was HK$6,800 and the fee for membership subscription was HK$1,200.

The Society had an annual income budget of HK$80.6 million for 2007.[3]

In 2017, the Society generated an income of HK$103 million, out of which HK$47 million was raised through annual practising certificate fees. The annual practising certificate fee in 2017 was HK$5,000 and membership fee was HK$800.

Artistic Work

On the 22nd of July 2022, the Society uploaded a music video of 《Love for Hong Kong – 法治新一代》, "a song dedicated to the learning and protection of the rule of law amongst the general public, in particular young people", to its official YouTube channel. The song was composed and lyricized by the preceding president Pang. The video description states that it featured the singing and dancing performance of Eastern District Youth and Children’s Choir, a group of children, incumbent president C. M. Chan, and other council members.

List of presidents
  • 1950–51: C. Y. Kwan
  • 1957–58: K. Y. Kan
  • 1959–60: P. C. Woo
  • 1962–6?: Peter A. L. Vine
  • 1969–71: T. S. Lo
  • 1971–7?: Brian Mcelney
  • 1973–75: Peter C. Wong
  • 1975–76: I. R. A. MacCallum
  • 1976–77: K. L. Mak
  • 1977–79: C. H. Wong
  • 1979–81: Edmund Cheung
  • 1981–83: P. S. Wan
  • 1983–84: T. S. Tong
  • 1984–85: Tim Freshwater
  • 1985–87: Brian Tisdall
  • 1987–89: Simon Ip
  • 1989–92: Alfred Donald Yap
  • 1992–93: Ambrose Lau
  • 1993–96: Roderick Woo
  • 1996–97: Christopher Chan
  • 1997–2000: Anthony Chow
  • 2000–02: Herbert Tsoi
  • 2002–04: S. H. Ip
  • 2004–05: Michael Lintern-Smith
  • 2005–07: Peter C. L. Lo
  • 2007–09: Lester Huang
  • 2009–11: Huen Wong
  • 2011–12: Junius Ho
  • 2012–13: Dieter Yih
  • 2013–14: Ambrose Lam
  • 2014–16: Stephen Hung
  • 2016–18: Thomas So
  • 2018–21: Melissa K. Pang
  • 2021-Incumbent: C. M. Chan

See also

References
  1. "Mr. C.M. Chan elected as President of the Law Society of Hong Kong" (PDF). Press release. The Law Society of Hong Kong. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. "Hong Kong Lawyer". www.hk-lawyer.org/. January 1990.
  3. "The Law Society of Hong Kong". Hklawsoc.org.hk. 31 December 2012.
  4. Denyer, Simon. "Beijing reminds Hong Kong residents that it remains 'the real boss'". The Washington Post.
  5. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/hk-legal-body-votes-to/1314618.html
  6. "Lawyers back resign call over white paper". The Standard. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014.
  7. "Lam voted out as Law Society chief". The Standard. 6 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2014.
  8. "Bars, gyms to close, 6pm restaurant curfew as Hong Kong ramps up Omicron battle". South China Morning Post. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  9. "衞生防護中心最新發現洪為民宴會人數為222人". News.rthk.hk. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. "Hong Kong Finds New Suspected Covid Case at Official's Scandal-Hit Birthday Party". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. "All 170 guests of Covid-19 scandal-hit birthday party sent to quarantine". South China Morning Post. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  12. 頭條日報. "律師會會長陳澤銘曾短暫逗留 就事件致歉". 頭條日報 Headline Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  13. "We've put foreign lawyers right on HK: Law Society - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  14. Lee, Peter (16 January 2023). "Hong Kong Bar Assoc. chief urges use of legal power with 'caution' following Beijing interpretation". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
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