When a Judiciary think-tank revealed ground-breaking plans for a huge shake-up of the legal system in November, fears were already being expressed that the move would be sabotaged by lawyers.
The blueprint for change, adopting radical reforms introduced in England and Wales in 1999, aims to give the public a better deal by making access to justice in civil cases simpler, quicker and cheaper.
While almost everyone in the legal community agrees there is a need for change and expresses support for the objectives of the think-tank's report, it has become clear that key features will be strongly opposed by the profession.
The Law Society, which represents solicitors, came out in support of many of the proposals in a report issued last month. But it opposes the 'big bang' approach of the Chief Justice's working party, preferring to change existing rules rather than import wholesale new ones from Britain.
It also has questioned whether Hong Kong has enough judges of sufficient quality to implement a key part of the reform proposals, which will give the courts - rather than the litigants - more power to dictate the way cases progress.
The Bar Association, representing barristers, is yet to complete its response. But it already has raised concerns that the quality of justice may suffer.
Former Bar Association chairman Ronny Tong, SC, warned that the reforms would not result in any cuts in legal costs.