Students, newspaper editors, clergy and undischarged bankrupts would become liable for jury service under proposals by the Law Reform Commission.
The commission has also suggested increasing the maximum age for jury service from 65 to 70, but says the lower limit should stay at 21 despite calls that it be reduced to 18.
And it says people without at least a university entry-level qualification should not serve.
These are among eight key changes recommended by the commission after a seven-year review by a 10-member subcommittee, led by Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, and a consultation in 2008 that drew 68 written responses.
Also widening the pool would be the removal of exemption from occupations that now enjoy it, including the master and crew of ships, registered pharmacists, editors of daily newspapers, Justices of the Peace and spouses of certain members of the judiciary.
People in these categories could apply to the Registrar of the High Court or the trial judge to be excused or to have their jury service deferred.
Medical practitioners and nurses, law enforcers, members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council and others would remain on the exemption list.