Lai See | Deputy magistrates unhappy with appointment process

We hear of some unhappiness within the ranks of Hong Kong's magistrates, or to be more specific, the deputy magistrates. The recent round of appointments has left some deputy magistrates feeling dismayed and disillusioned about the way they feel appointments to permanent magistrates are made. At least three deputy magistrates to our knowledge have decided to leave the judiciary as a result of their belief that the reason they were not promoted to permanent magistrates was not entirely due to their respective merits. In short they have lost confidence in the appointments system and believe "friendships" were more significant than merit. We're assured this is not simply a case of sour grapes but a grievance of some substance.

Naturally Lai See approached chief magistrate Clement Lee Hing-nin for a response to these claims since he, along with other senior figures, is responsible for the recommendations for promotion that are sent to the chief justice for approval. We were referred to a judiciary information spokesman who said "the judiciary will not comment on individual cases". In addition she drew our attention to the Magistrates Ordinance which empowers the chief justice "to appoint any eligible person to be a deputy magistrate for such period and on such terms as he thinks fit". The spokesman added: "It is not uncommon that some deputy magistrates may return to private practice upon the expiry of their deputy appointments and some may be interested in taking up deputy appointments again in the future." That may not necessarily be the case under the current arrangements.

Chief Executive CY Leung's remarks about Hong Kong's poor continue to make waves. The arts and entertainment bc magazine has declined an invitation from the Hong Kong String Orchestra to provide free coverage of its upcoming charity concert later this month.

"Regrettably bc magazine will not be giving exposure to your concert, however noble the cause," the magazine's editor Simon Durrant wrote in a letter to the orchestra's founding members. The reason for rejecting the request is that Leung is the orchestra's honorary patron and Durrant considered his recent remarks "deeply offensive".

Durrant wrote: "The median monthly income is HK$14,000 and a couple of million people work hard long hours doing jobs vital to Hong Kong every day. Every one of those would love to earn more than HK$14,000 - they don't - but without them Hong Kong would cease to function."