### Legal Practitioners Ordinance 《法律執業者條例》

27. Power of Court to admit barristers
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Court may, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Chief Justice, admit as a barrister of the High Court in Hong Kong, a person whom it considers a fit and proper person to be a barrister, provided such person has—
(a) complied with the requirements;
(b) passed the examinations; and
(c) paid the fees,
prescribed by the Bar Council.
(2) The Court shall not admit a person under subsection (1) unless it is satisfied that that person—
(a) is not in practice as a solicitor either on his own account or as a partner or salaried employee in a firm of solicitors practising in Hong Kong; and
(b) satisfies one of the following requirements—
(i) has resided in Hong Kong for at least 3 consecutive months immediately before the date of his application for admission;
(ii) has been ordinarily resident in Hong Kong for at least 7 years;
(iii) has been physically present in Hong Kong for at least 180 days of each of at least 7 years within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of his application for admission.
(3) If at the time of his admission under subsection (1) the person is a solicitor, the Registrar shall remove the person’s name from the roll of solicitors.
(4) Notwithstanding that a person does not satisfy all the requirements specified in subsections (1) and (2)(b), where the Court considers that he is a fit and proper person to be a barrister and is satisfied that he has—
(a) the qualification acquired outside Hong Kong to engage in work that would, if undertaken in Hong Kong, be similar to that undertaken by a barrister in the course of ordinary practice as a barrister in the High Court or Court of Final Appeal; and
(b) substantial experience in advocacy in a court,
the Court may admit such person as a barrister under this section for the purpose of any particular case or cases and may impose such restrictions and conditions on him as it may see fit.
(4A) Subsection (4) is subject to sections 27B, 27C, 27D, 27E and 27F. (Added 7 of 2023 s. 4)
(5) The Court may, when admitting a person as a barrister, sit in chambers.
(Replaced 42 of 2000 s. 7) Editorial Note:
For the saving provision in relation to the amendment made by section 7 of the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Ordinance 2000 (42 of 2000), please see section 17 of that Amendment Ordinance.

### Legal Practitioners Ordinance 《法律執業者條例》

27B. Generally, no admission as barrister for cases concerning national security under section 27(4)
(1) A person must not be admitted as a barrister for a case concerning national security under section 27(4) unless there is exceptional circumstance as specified in subsection (2).
(2) The exceptional circumstance is that the Chief Executive has sufficient grounds for believing that the person’s practising or acting as a barrister for the case does not involve national security or would not be contrary to the interests of national security.
(3) Sections 27C, 27D, 27E and 27F contain provisions in relation to establishing whether the exceptional circumstance exists.
(Added 7 of 2023 s. 5)

27C. No application for admission as barrister for cases concerning national security under section 27(4) without notice of permission to proceed
(1) A person (applicant

27D. Court not to admit barrister for cases concerning national security under section 27(4) without CE certificate
(1) Before making any order as to the admission of a person for a case concerning national security, the Court must request and obtain a certificate from the Chief Executive under Article 47 of the HK National Security Law on—
(a) whether the person’s practising or acting as a barrister for the case involves national security; and
(b) whether the person’s practising or acting as a barrister for the case would be contrary to the interests of national security.
(2) The Court must not admit the person as a barrister for the case under section 27(4) unless the Court receives a CE certificate certifying both or either of the following decisions of the Chief Executive—
(a) the person’s practising or acting as a barrister for the case does not involve national security;
(b) the person’s practising or acting as a barrister for the case would not be contrary to the interests of national security.
(Added 7 of 2023 s. 5)

27E. Questions arising after admission under section 27(4) that require referral to Chief Executive
(1) After a person is admitted as a barrister for a case under section 27(4), if it appears to the relevant court or the Secretary for Justice that there are new circumstances giving rise to—
(a) whether a decision certified in respect of the case by a CE certificate under section 27D(2) (previous certificate

### Legal Practitioners Ordinance 《法律執業者條例》

27F. No questioning of, and no legal proceedings be instituted in respect of, decision of Chief Executive
A decision made by the Chief Executive under section 27C, 27D or 27E is not liable to be questioned in any court of law, and no legal proceedings of any form may be instituted in respect of the decision.
(Added 7 of 2023 s. 5)

28. Formalities for admission as a barrister
Except as may be prescribed by the Chief Justice, no person shall be admitted as a barrister unless he has deposited with the Registrar documentary evidence together with an affidavit showing the manner in which he satisfies the requirements specified in section 27(1) and (2).
(Replaced 42 of 2000 s. 9)

29. Roll of barristers
(1) The Registrar shall keep a roll of all barristers admitted by the Court under sections 27 and 27A and shall have custody of the roll of barristers and of all documents relating thereto and shall allow any person to inspect the roll of barristers during office hours without payment. (Amended 61 of 1992 s. 15) 
(2) The Registrar, upon production of a certificate of admission signed by a judge and upon payment to the Registrar of such fee as may be prescribed by the Chief Justice, shall enter upon the roll of barristers the name of the person enrolled. (Amended 60 of 1994 s. 31)
(2A) A barrister who was admitted pursuant to section 27(1) or section 27A may—
(a) apply by motion to have his name removed from the roll of barristers; and
(b) where he has had his name removed under paragraph (a), on giving at least 7 days’ notice to the Bar Council, apply by motion to have his name restored to the roll of barristers. (Added 42 of 2000 s. 10)
(2B) A barrister who was admitted pursuant to section 27(4) for a particular case or cases shall, on completion of such case or cases including any appeal relating thereto, be deemed to have had his name removed from the roll of barristers. (Added 42 of 2000 s. 10)
(2C) Where a barrister has had his name removed from the roll of barristers under subsection (2A) or (2B), he shall forthwith surrender to the Bar Council any current practising certificate. (Added 42 of 2000 s. 10)
(3) (Repealed 61 of 1992 s. 15)