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Magistrates' court (Hong Kong)

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All judges and magistrates must have qualified as legal practitioners either in Hong Kong or in another common law jurisdiction and have had substantial professional experience.

Court structure

Chief Magistrate

The Chief Magistrate is the court leader and is responsible for the overall administration of the magistrates' courts.

Principal magistrate

A principal magistrate is in charge of one of the seven magistrates' courts.

Permanent magistrate

A permanent magistrate is a full-time magistrate, and is assigned to sit in one of the seven magistrates' courts.

The Chief Justice appoints on a temporary basis a number of principal and permanent magistrates to sit as a Master in the High Court or to sit as a Deputy District Judge or Master in the District Court, Family Court or Lands Tribunal. The Chief Justice also appoints a number of permanent magistrates to sit as Presiding Officers in the Labour Tribunal and Adjudicators in the Small Claims Tribunal.

Special magistrate

A special magistrate is also a full-time magistrate, but is assigned to deal with various kinds of departmental summons including minor offenses such as traffic contraventions. Their sentencing power is limited to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 or as specified in their warrants of appointment.

Deputy magistrate / deputy special magistrate

A deputy magistrate or deputy special magistrate is assigned by the Chief Justice for such period and on such terms as the chief justice thinks fit. This makes additional manpower available to the magistrates' courts while also giving eligible persons experience on the bench, before the magistrate commits to a full-time posting or returns to private practice.

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