The Hong Kong Bar Association has warned that a proposed phased redevelopment of the High Court, which could span more than a decade, is “not workable” and risks deterring legal practitioners from joining the bench.
The association, the professional body for barristers, urged the government to consider faster alternatives, such as repurposing the existing District Court building.
In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post on Sunday, association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet SC also said the authorities should consider offering judges an ex gratia pay rise, on top of keeping salaries in line with inflation, to attract top-tier practitioners from the private sector.