Cheung Tat Ming v Council of the Law Society of Hong Kong

 [2025] HKCFI 5383, the Applicant challenged the decision of the Council of the Law Society of Hong Kong to refer alleged confidentiality breaches, allegedly committed whilst he was a Council member, to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Convenor. This was the first time the Council had referred disciplinary complaints against one of its own serving members. As Coleman J noted, the Council was ‘

not only the decision maker, but also the complainant, and supposed victim of the Applicant’s breaches

Ordinarily, complaints against solicitors go through the Society’s committee structure, with Council members excluded where conflicts arise. But here the Council invoked its residual statutory powers to refer the matter to the Convenor directly, citing exceptional circumstances, after appointing an independent panel of three past Presidents to examine the allegations and receiving its findings that the Applicant had breached confidentiality obligations without justification.

The Applicant alleged procedural unfairness, apparent bias, and bad faith. The first two grounds met the leave threshold, but the challenge failed on the merits.

 and Jason Kung, instructed by Boase Cohen & Collins, acted for the applicant.

, instructed by Howse Williams, acted for the respondent.

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