Hong Kong barrister battles Bar Association over second job 'body figuring'
A barrister is accusing the Bar Association of acting unlawfully by blocking him from starting a second career as a 'body figuring practitioner'.
A barrister is accusing the Bar Association of acting unlawfully by blocking him from starting a second career as a "body figuring practitioner" helping people to correct limb and spinal misalignments, a court has heard.
The case has put the spotlight on barristers looking to earn extra cash by doubling up as practitioners in other fields, for which they may need to obtain approval from their legal professional body.
Lawyer Albert Leung Sze-ho was turned down by the association in March last year in his application to juggle both the body figuring job and his legal work concurrently, based on concerns the job might adversely affect the reputation of barristers.
In a judicial review at the Court of First Instance yesterday, Leung, 45, challenged that decision. His lawyer, Tim Parker, said: "Many barristers who have less experience and do not come from good families rely on supplementary jobs to keep stable incomes."
Gerard McCoy SC, for the association, mentioned a neuro-beautology course Leung had taken that involved massage.
McCoy cited a website featuring the course as claiming such treatment could help women in breast augmentation. The site also showed the back of a half-naked woman, an image he suggested degraded women.
"Neuro-beautology is not something that the Bar Association is willing to approve as a supplementary occupation," he said.
The court heard that Leung was called to the Bar in 2005.
Separately, in his application for a judicial review, Leung said he was certified by the Canadian examining board of health care practitioners and was a member of the International Naturopathic Medicine Association. He completed the course last year and wanted to practise as a freelancer while working as a barrister in order to have a more stable income.
Outside court, he said neuro-beautology involves using equipment to perform pressure tests on the back of a human body based on reflexology. The equipment would identify appropriate positions and then release pressure on them to restore misaligned spines and legs of different lengths, he said.
Yesterday, Parker told the court the picture mentioned merely showed a class being taught. He said Leung did not take that course and the work did not involve physical contact.
He alleged the association's decision breached Article 33 of the Basic Law, which allowed Hong Kong residents freedom of choice of occupation. He conceded the Bar Council, the association's governing body, had not blocked Leung from doing either job - but said he was not allowed to do both concurrently.
McCoy argued the council considered working in a body-figuring job might be in breach of the association's code of conduct, which it was duty-bound to enforce.
Mr Justice Godfrey Lam Wan-ho will give his ruling later. Leung ceased serving as a barrister and worked as a body figuring practitioner after his application failed, but resumed legal work this year.
