I have the right to practise as a barrister in Hong Kong. I hold a valid practising certificate issued by the Hong Kong Bar Council, having paid (1) the subscription for membership of the Bar Association; (2) the premium prescribed by the Bar Council for my insurance under the Master Policy; and (3) the fee for my practising certificate. As a practising barrister, I may not engage directly or indirectly in any other occupation if my association with that occupation may adversely affect the reputation of the Bar, or prejudice my ability to attend properly to my practice or the interests of my clients.
Occupations for which the Bar Council has granted general permission for members to engage in on a supplementary basis are set out in Annex 2 of the Code of Conduct. For legal matters, I can hold offices eg as a Mediator or Arbitrator, and I can take up supplementary occupations in (1) examining newspapers, periodicals, books, scripts and other publications for libel, breach of copyright, contempt of court and the like, (2) advising producers of plays and films on such matters, (3) running a private law tutorial school...
For legal or non-legal matters, I can do supplementary work (1) in writing, editing, and reviewing books and periodicals, (2) in journalism, and (3) in broadcasting; and (4) I can be a member of a non-trading body establishing under any statutory or administrative powers. And for non-legal business matters, I can also be a non-executive director of a company (whether public or private) or a chairman, director, secretary of a company not actively engaged in trade or business.
As a practising barrister in the Hong Kong legal system, I am legally and morally obliged to follow and apply the legal and ethical principles, rules, processes of related institutions. Not only that they will impact on my commitment and performance, I also owe a legal and moral responsibility to my clients and the public at large. My mission is to create, capture and deliver value, and my vision is to make myself and the system I am in a value centre for all!