Barrister criticises Bar Council's 'elitist' election system
A leading barrister called yesterday for colleagues to abandon a 'self-perpetuating elite' and introduce secret balloting to the profession's top body.
Senior Counsel Desmond Keane highlighted his concerns about the proxy voting method used in elections to the Bar Council, which allows a candidate or his supporter to collect votes openly, and which he feels can lead to pressure - particularly on young barristers.
In a letter to the heads of the Bar Association, he said elections to the governing Bar Council were rarely contested and those chosen were generally proposed by present or past council officers.
'Some critics have mentioned terms such as 'Venetian Oligarchy' or 'Self-Perpetuating Elite',' Mr Keane wrote in the letter, which he also released to Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie, the Law Society and the media.
'Such limitation of choice creates danger of complacency, lack of alertness to need for change and in recent months indulgence in controversial and negative observations about the work of our HKSAR executive government on matters beyond the proper remit of a Bar Association and Bar Council and with careless disregard as to whether their statements have the support or represent the views of members generally.' Mr Keane, a member of the Hong Kong Bar since 1982, added: 'The proxy system flies in the face of secret ballot principles, and permits undesirable influence, actual or perceived, to come into play.' Another senior barrister said lawyers might not stand for election for fear of being seen as challenging the status quo and affecting their career chances.
The Bar Association advises the Government on matters of law and justice.
Members of the Bar Council could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
