Hong Kong chief justice urges senior counsel to uphold public trust in courts

Hong Kong’s chief justice has urged the city’s senior barristers to uphold public confidence in the judicial system through their practice, saying the role requires consistent integrity and judgment.

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung said on Saturday during the senior counsel admission ceremony that public confidence in the city’s courts depended significantly on barristers of this rank, adding that they were not appointed simply for their technical skills or success.

“It requires the capacity to maintain professional standards even when doing so is inconvenient, unpopular or personally disadvantageous. It requires judgment exercised not only in argument, but in restraint,” Cheung said.

Six barristers were appointed as senior counsel this year, bringing the total number of “silks” in the city to 109. Senior counsel are also referred to as “silks” for the gowns they wear in court.

The top judge said senior counsel were expected to uphold independence and integrity in their practice, adding that the role would carry new leadership responsibilities within the profession.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, who also spoke at the ceremony, pointed to the importance of barristers’ role in upholding public trust in the legal system.

Lam, a barrister himself, said parties involved in a trial were more likely to accept the court’s judgment, be it for or against them, if they could witness it arising after their lawyer had had a proper chance to put forward their case with the court’s engagement.