Residents of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court have vowed to collectively fight for justice in the aftermath of the city’s deadliest inferno in seven decades, as legal experts call for authorities to press ahead with a long-stalled proposal to introduce a class-action mechanism for multiparty litigation. Last November’s fire prompted some residents to question whether…
It is that time of the year – January – the start of a legal year, marked by a decidedly Western ceremonial event. This month alone, the Bar has sent representatives to attend Opening of the Legal Year ceremonies in Singapore, Malaysia and, of course, Hong Kong. Similar ceremonies are also part of the tradition…
Hong Kong’s justice minister has refuted “unfounded” accusations against the judiciary regarding several highly charged national security cases, stating that none of the judges had failed to fulfil their duties and that their independence remains strong. In his address at a ceremony on Monday to mark the start of the legal year, Secretary for Justice…
Hong Kong’s rule of law is “more robust and enduring than the outcome of any single case”, the city’s chief justice has declared after former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was found guilty in a landmark national security case that drew international scrutiny and criticism. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung on Monday also warned that…
To many, senior counsel appear to be an oddity of an antiquated system, reinforced visually by men and women dressed in funny wigs and medieval garb marching in an official procession together with all the judges at the Opening of the Legal Year in January each year. There are only 104 of them in Hong…