Solicitor forced to pay her legal bill

A LAW Society ruling has forced solicitor Helen Chung Yee-fong to dig into her pockets, after her barrister complained she had ignored his bills for a high-profile lawsuit.

The move was revealed as Justice Department prosecutors were studying a police report into possible action against Ms Chung for perjury.

The Tsim Sha Tsui lawyer came before the courts last year, when her former domestic helpers successfully sued her for more than $18,000 for breaching their employment contracts.

The two Filipino women told of having to learn dance steps, sing ditties and distribute leaflets and posters in their employer's ill-fated campaign for a 1995 legislative council seat.

Ms Chung - who became both client and solicitor when she briefed barrister John McLanachan to defend her - was criticised by Judge Andrew Chung as an 'unscrupulous witness' who had perjured herself.

Within weeks of the ruling in October last year, Mr McLanachan made a complaint of his own against Ms Chung, saying she had neither replied to his letters nor paid his bill, believed to be in the region of $300,000.

Last week, Law Society sources confirmed the body's Grey Areas Committee had studied the issue and called on Ms Chung to pay up.

'Some senior barristers and senior litigation lawyers sit together and have a look at the [barrister's] fee note to see whether the fees are reasonable,' a spokesman said.

'The Grey Areas Committee decided against Helen Chung and she paid up immediately.' The Law Society admitted it had been dragging its feet in investigating the allegations of perjury against Ms Chung, because it believed the Justice Department and police were investigating the matter, the spokesman said.

'If she is found guilty of perjury, it would be a very serious matter.' A Justice Department spokesman said lawyers were still studying the police report.