### Solicitors’ Accounts Rules 《律師帳目規則》

11. Powers of Council
(1) In order to ascertain whether the provisions of these rules have been complied with, the Council, acting either—
(a) on its own motion; or 
(b) on a written complaint lodged with it by a third party, 
may require any solicitor to produce at such time and place as may be fixed by the Council, his books of account, management accounts including monthly profit and loss accounts, bank pass books, loose-leaf bank statements, statements of account, vouchers and any other necessary documents for the inspection of any person appointed by the Council, and such person shall be directed to prepare for the information of the Council a report on the result of such inspection and any such report may be used as a basis for proceedings under the Ordinance. (L.N. 151 of 2012)
(2) Upon being required so to do a solicitor shall produce such books of account, management accounts including monthly profit and loss accounts, bank pass books, loose-leaf bank statements, statements of account, vouchers and documents at the time and place fixed. (L.N. 151 of 2012)
(3) Before instituting an inspection on a written complaint lodged with it by a third party, the Council shall require prima facie evidence that a ground of complaint exists, and may require the payment by such party to the Council of a reasonable sum to be fixed by it to cover the costs of the inspection, and the costs of the solicitor against whom the complaint is made and the Council may deal with any sum so paid in such manner as it thinks fit. 
(4) The Council may make such order for the payment of the costs of any inspection required by the Council under this rule as it thinks fit. (L.N. 306 of 1979) 
(52 of 1980 s. 2)

12. Delivery of written intimation etc.
(L.N. 151 of 2012 and L.N. 185 of 2012)A written intimation of the amount of a solicitor’s costs incurred and a notification to a client that money held for him will be applied as mentioned in rule 7(a)(iv) may be delivered to a client in the same manner as a bill of costs is required to be delivered under section 66(2) of the Ordinance.

13. Requirement by Council
Every requirement to be made by the Council of a solicitor under these rules shall be made in writing under the hand of the Secretary and sent by registered post to the last address of the solicitor notified to the Society and, when so made and sent, shall be deemed to have been received by the solicitor within 48 hours of the time of posting. 
(52 of 1980 s. 2)

### Solicitors’ Accounts Rules 《律師帳目規則》

14. Saving of rights of solicitor
Nothing in these rules shall deprive a solicitor of any recourse or right, whether by way of lien, set-off, counter-claim, charge or otherwise, against moneys standing to the credit of a client account. 

15. Waiver
The Council may, on prior written application, waive in writing the provision relating to the location of a client account subject to the conditions that it may impose.
(L.N. 151 of 2012)

### Practising Certificate (Solicitors) (Grounds for Refusal) Rules 《執業證書(律師)(拒絕發出證書理由)規則》

1. Citation
These rules may be cited as the Practising Certificate (Solicitors) (Grounds for Refusal) Rules.

2. Grounds for refusal to issue practising certificate
For the purposes of section 6(5)(a) of the Ordinance, the grounds on which the Society may refuse to issue a practising certificate are—
(a) the applicant has failed or refused to give to the Society a satisfactory explanation of any conduct which is, in the opinion of the Society, unbecoming of a solicitor; 
(b) the applicant is, by reason of his financial position, mental capacity or otherwise, unfit to practise as a solicitor.

3. Notice to applicant
The Society shall, before refusing to issue a practising certificate, give notice to the applicant that consideration is being given to such refusal and inviting the applicant within 14 days to make such representations in writing to the Society as he thinks fit.

4. Written refusal
The Society shall, if it refuses to issue a practising certificate, state its reasons in writing to the applicant. 

### Solicitors (General) Costs Rules 《律師(一般)事務費規則》

1. Citation
These rules may be cited as the Solicitors (General) Costs Rules.

2A. Interpretation
(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires—
Flat For Sale Scheme (住宅發售計劃) means the Flat For Sale Scheme of the Hong Kong Housing Society which complements the Home Ownership Scheme;
Home Ownership Scheme (居者有其屋計劃) means a scheme under which residential units in estates constructed by the Housing Authority are sold to purchasers nominated by the Housing Authority under section 17AA of the Housing Ordinance (Cap. 283);
Private Sector Participation Scheme (私人機構參建居屋計劃) means a scheme under which residential units in privately constructed estates are sold to home owners nominated under the relevant Conditions of Sale;
Sandwich Class Housing Scheme (夾心階層住屋計劃) means the Sandwich Class Housing Scheme of the Hong Kong Housing Society under which flats directly comparable to those built by private developers are constructed by the Hong Kong Housing Society and sold at a discount to families within determined income levels.
(2) For the purpose of these rules, a residential unit which is the subject of an intended sale and purchase is comprised in the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Flat For Sale Scheme or the Sandwich Class Housing Scheme if upon completion of the intended sale and purchase, resale of the residential unit will be subject to restrictions imposed by the Housing Authority or by the Hong Kong Housing Society, as the case may be.
(L.N. 147 of 1996)

2. Application
These rules apply to all solicitors’ non-contentious business except for any such business which is provided for or regulated by any other rules made under section 74(3) of the Ordinance.