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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Hon Chief Justice, Mr Andrew Kwok-nang Li, announced today (June 7) his decision to set up a working party to study the solicitors' rights of audience in the higher courts.

The Working Party on Solicitors' Rights of Audience (the Working Party) will be tasked to consider whether solicitors' existing rights of audience should be extended and if so, the mechanism for dealing with the grant of extended rights of audience to solicitors.

To be chaired by the Hon Mr Justice Bokhary, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, the Working Party will comprise four other judges, a Law Officer from the Department of Justice, two barristers, two solicitors and a lay member not connected with the practice of law.

Appointment will be made in June in consultation with the Secretary for Justice (Law Officer), the Chairman of the Bar Council (two barristers) and the President of the Law Society (two solicitors).

The Chief Justice pointed out that the solicitors' rights of audience in the higher courts was a most important subject for the administration of justice before the courts.

"It is fundamental to consider what is in the public interest. A most important facet of the public interest is that there must be the highest standards of advocacy before the courts. This is essential for the proper administration of justice in an adversarial system. Another most important facet of the public interest is that there should be a strong and independent Bar," the Chief Justice said.

Having regard to the importance of the subject and taking into account the public interest, the Chief Justice has come to the view that the best way forward is for him to appoint a Working Party to study the subject.

The Working Party will be supported by a secretariat supplied by the Department of Justice.

"With such a secretariat, I am confident that the Working Party will be able to proceed with its work with reasonable speed," the Chief Justice said.

Ends/Monday, June 7, 2004

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