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Legal Tales
Top barristers from the Hong Kong Bar Association give their insights on the pressing issues of the day from a legal perspective in this exclusive weekly column.
Updated: 13 Mar, 2026
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[1]
Legal Tales | We should all speak up to defend judicial independence from any interference
It is unacceptable in any civilised society governed by the rule of law to seek to pressurise judges to reach a particular decision or to resign.
17 Apr, 2025
[2]
Legal Tales | Do we still need overseas judges in Hong Kong’s top court?
Role played by overseas non-permanent judges in connecting Hong Kong to the rest of the legal world is arguably more important than ever.
24 Apr, 2025
[3]
Legal Tales | Hong Kong ride-hailing regulations can draw lessons from US, UK, Singapore
New framework should deter unhealthy competition and conflict, enabling taxis and ride-hailing services to complement each other.
01 May, 2025
[4]
Legal Tales | Could AI lawyers replace human barristers in Hong Kong’s courtrooms?
Feeling emotions and understanding empathy like a human may be the final barrier preventing AI from replacing barristers entirely.
08 May, 2025
[5]
Legal Tales | To be or not to be in chambers: that is the question for Hong Kong barristers
Working remotely has its benefits but war stories and wisdom – as well as drinks – are best shared in person.
15 May, 2025
[6]
Legal Tales | Modern matrimony in Hong Kong: prenuptial agreement or ‘deed of love’?
Instead of viewing prenups as harbingers of conflict, can they be seen as a way of securing marital bliss before the honeymoon begins?
22 May, 2025
[7]
Legal Tales | Time for Hong Kong to step up as a restructuring and insolvency hub
Hong Kong’s uniqueness is not that it provides R&I services to help companies survive, but that it specialises in offering them across borders.
29 May, 2025
[8]
Legal Tales | Hong Kong’s jury system: not an ‘unwritten law’
Hong Kong’s jury system has served the city well and is part of our common law heritage.
05 Jun, 2025
[9]
Legal Tales | The case of Hong Kong vs Singapore: unlimited potential for collaboration
Competition between the two cities will always be played up but we should not forget that there is also a great deal to learn from each other.
12 Jun, 2025
[10]
Legal Tales | Some legal ramifications surrounding use of AI in police surveillance
Advantages of certain systems can readily be seen but transparent policies should be formulated for their usage.
19 Jun, 2025
[11]
Legal Tales | Interstate mediation in a multipolar world: how can Hong Kong best play a role?
Hosting the International Organization for Mediation is a strong first step for Hong Kong on the road to providing a lasting contribution to international law.
26 Jun, 2025
[12]
Legal Tales | Taking care of yourself beyond health – planning ahead
What happens if your health fails to the point that you cannot make decisions for yourself?
03 Jul, 2025
[13]
Legal Tales | From Yerma to the law of surrogacy in Hong Kong
Hongkongers have been entertained by the recent staging of a 1930s Spanish play that raises questions about a very modern topic – surrogacy.
10 Jul, 2025
[14]
Legal Tales | Charting a course in AI seas: why barristers are still captains of legal ship
AI first mate is capable of charting voyages needed by the barrister but it cannot be given greater responsibility than the captain.
17 Jul, 2025
[15]
Legal Tales | How a trip to Paris showed that in Hong Kong, nothing is impossible
Recent Department of Justice seminar in the French capital underscored the country’s strong connections with Hong Kong.
24 Jul, 2025
[16]
Legal Tales | The crypto frenzy and the legal response in Hong Kong
New framework strengthens Hong Kong’s position as a global digital asset hub by offering a sound regulatory environment.
31 Jul, 2025
[17]
Legal Tales | How Hong Kong can regulate the harm caused by deepfake porn
Creators of deepfake pornography may exist in a legal vacuum, with existing laws unable to properly govern or penalise their culpable conduct.
07 Aug, 2025
[18]
Legal Tales | When experimental treatments lead to death, prosecution is not always simple
Applying the crime of gross negligence manslaughter to the conduct of medical practitioners is not always straightforward.
14 Aug, 2025
[19]
Legal Tales | To will or not to will: beyond the myths of will-making in Hong Kong
People should go beyond the taboos and misconceptions of will-making and consider afterlife arrangements as a matter of proper financial planning.
21 Aug, 2025
[20]
Legal Tales | Keeping Hong Kong corruption-free for 51 years – the ICAC
Apart from the establishment of the anti-corruption agency and certain laws, a change in culture has been a key factor in keeping the city clean.
28 Aug, 2025
[21]
Legal Tales | Masterful take by Hong Kong film The Last Dance on taboos surrounding death rituals
Dramatic scene from blockbuster movie touches on the concept of disputes over funeral and burial arrangements.
04 Sep, 2025
[22]
Legal Tales | Split the bill – or split legal hairs – over a dinner date in Hong Kong
Should you find yourself in an eat-and-run situation, how can the law help you reclaim your wallet, if not your dignity?
11 Sep, 2025
[23]
Legal Tales | A brief history of pupil barristers and the system’s evolution in Hong Kong
The city’s pupillage system has seen major changes in the past 25 years, but what persists are the close ties between pupils and masters.
25 Sep, 2025
[24]
Legal Tales | Justice in the hands of the people: benefits of trial by jury in Hong Kong
Juries have been part of our legal system since 1845 and ensure the public’s direct participation in the criminal justice system.
02 Oct, 2025
[25]
Legal Tales | Does Hong Kong need to criminalise storm chasing or will idea blow over?
As Super Typhoon Ragasa swept through Hong Kong, thrill seekers were involved in a number of bizarre incidents.
09 Oct, 2025
[26]
Legal Tales | Why publishing Hong Kong court judgments is of vital importance to legal system
Judgments in Hong Kong are made public because it’s important that justice should not only be done, but be seen to be done.
16 Oct, 2025
[27]
Legal Tales | K-drama dilemma versus reality of ‘cab rank rule’ for Hong Kong barristers
Referral system ensures no one is denied representation by a barrister, while allowing the latter to render services independently and impartially.
23 Oct, 2025
[28]
Legal Tales | How gold standards ensure Hong Kong’s barristers are on their best behaviour
Hong Kong Bar Association enforces Code of Conduct that covers ethics, etiquette and keeping up public confidence in the justice system.
30 Oct, 2025
[29]
Legal Tales | Having common law lawyers from here, elsewhere is in Hong Kong’s best interest
Having overseas lawyers here is not a historical hangover, but allows the courts to get the best expertise under ‘one country, two systems’.
06 Nov, 2025
[30]
Legal Tales | Heady history of wigs in court: the case for Hong Kong lawyers to keep them on
The wig remains one of the most enduring symbols of the legal profession, upheld across multiple common law jurisdictions.
13 Nov, 2025
[31]
Legal Tales | How Hong Kong’s law protects those drawn to crypto and virtual asset investments
City has introduced groundbreaking, tailor-made laws designed to protect the public when investing in new class of financial products.
20 Nov, 2025
[32]
Legal Tales | A new test for consent: reforming Hong Kong’s approach to sexual crimes
Efforts to update the city’s sexual offence laws aim to reflect evolving views on consent and improve prosecution outcomes.
28 Nov, 2025
[33]
Legal Tales | Time for solidarity after Hong Kong blaze as Bar relaunches pro bono scheme
The Bar has a long history of offering free services, but the new scheme leverages NGO partnerships to ensure there is wider access to justice.
04 Dec, 2025
[34]
Legal Tales | Balancing rights and responsibilities: child custody in Hong Kong demystified
The true meaning of legal concepts such as custody and access is much misunderstood among laypeople in Hong Kong.
11 Dec, 2025
[35]
Legal Tales | Despite lapses behind Tai Po fire, Hong Kong’s unity shows in a time of crisis
Catastrophic fires in other places offer lessons in the administration of justice, but Hongkongers’ care and resilience will carry them through.
18 Dec, 2025
[36]
Legal Tales | Free for all or fees for all? Hong Kong’s legal aid levels the scales
From pro bono work to legal aid, the city’s lawyers help ensure access to the courts is not reserved only for those with deep pockets.
25 Dec, 2025
[37]
Legal Tales | The silk road: duties and responsibilities of Hong Kong’s senior counsel
Hong Kong has 104 senior counsel out of 1,700 barristers. So what makes senior counsel special, and are they worth that status?
01 Jan, 2026
[38]
Legal Tales | What happens in Hong Kong’s top court, hidden amid the city’s winter wonderland
It may be used as a canvas for Christmas projections, but the building houses independently appointed judges who uphold and develop the city’s laws.
08 Jan, 2026
[39]
Legal Tales | Time to end bid-rigging in Hong Kong with criminalisation, tougher enforcement
In the wake of the Tai Po fire, an all-too-common practice in building management and maintenance comes under the spotlight – and must be redressed.
15 Jan, 2026
[40]
Legal Tales | Fine brews: Hong Kong milk tea and the Opening of the Legal Year ceremony
Why we keep a decidedly Western colonial tradition and display it proudly in front of the world.
22 Jan, 2026
[41]
Legal Tales | Late corporate activist David Webb showed why transparency benefits Hong Kong
Webb’s website reported on suspicious corporate wrongdoings under an open system that improved city’s governance and exercise of the rule of law.
29 Jan, 2026
[42]
Legal Tales | Baptism of fire: my first criminal trial
Why a small victory reflects a much larger triumph for the system of an independent bar.
05 Feb, 2026
[43]
Legal Tales | How Hong Kong law deals with the complicated matter of divorce
While it is relatively easy filing for divorce under today’s laws, the court must still consider complex factors of needs and matrimonial assets.
12 Feb, 2026
[44]
Legal Tales | Uber robotaxi: uber-sophisticated in tech and uber-complicated in law
Who do you sue if you have a traffic accident sitting inside an autonomous taxi?
19 Feb, 2026
[45]
Legal Tales | How Hong Kong law ensures kids’ well-being when divorced parents split locations
The Family Court must determine how any relocation plan by one parent serves or undermines the best interests of the children.
26 Feb, 2026
[46]
Legal Tales | Why AI cannot – and should not – replace human judges
The limitations of large language models like ChatGPT go well beyond hallucinations, and the courtroom is no place for probabilistic guesswork.
05 Mar, 2026
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[47]
Legal Tales | Graham A. Harris, a giant of the Hong Kong Bar
Harris, who died on March 10, joins select group elected as Life Members.
12 Mar, 2026
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