Magistrates' court (Hong Kong)

Magistrates' courts in Hong Kong have criminal jurisdiction over a wide range of offenses, and in general these offenses must only constitute two years' imprisonment or a fine of HK$100,000; in certain circumstances, sentences of three years may be imposed. All criminal proceedings must begin in the magistrates' courts; the Secretary for Justice may transfer cases to either the District Court or the Court of First Instance depending on the seriousness of the crime.^[1]

Magistrates' courts
Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court
Location	Hong Kong
Authorised by	Hong Kong Basic Law, Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227)
Appeals to	Court of First Instance of the High Court; further appeal to the Court of Final Appeal in limited circumstance
Website	Official website
Chief Magistrate
Currently	Mr Victor SO Wai-tak

Magistrates' court
Chinese	香港裁判法院
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Cáipàn Fǎ​yuàn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping hoeng1 gong2 coi4 pun3 faat3 jyun6*2

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^[2] or to sit as a Deputy District Judge or Master in the District Court, Family Court or Lands Tribunal.^[3][4][5] 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.^[6][7]

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.

List of magistrates

Chief Magistrate

• Mr SO Wai-tak, Victor

Principal magistrates

• Mr LUI Kin-man, Simon^{[Note 1]}
• Miss YIM Shun-yee, Ada^{[Note 2]}
• Mr SO Man-lung, Don^{[Note 3]}
• Miss CHUI Yee-mei, Ivy^{[Note 4]}

Permanent magistrates

The current permanent magistrates (as at 1 January 2023) are (ranked according to seniority):

• Mr MAK Kwok-cheung, Brian^{[Note 5]}
• Mr CHEANG Kei-hong^{[Note 6]}
• Mr WONG Kwok-fai, Raymond^{[Note 7]}
• Ms CHAN Wai-mun, Amy^{[Note 8]}
• Miss CHOW Pok-fun, Josephine^{[Note 9]}
• Mr YIP Sue-pui, Lawrence^{[Note 10]}
• Mr WAN Siu-ming, Jason^{[Note 11]}
• Mr LI Chi-ho^{[Note 12]}
• Ms WONG Susan^{[Note 13]}
• Ms LAU Yee-wan, Winnie^{[Note 14]}
• Mr TANG Siu-hung, Daniel^{[Note 15]}
• Mr CHEUNG Chi-wai, David^{[Note 16]}
• Mr CHENG Lim-chi, Andy^{[Note 17]}
• Ms LAM Mei-sze, Michelle^{[Note 18]}
• Mr CHUM Yau-fong, David
• Mr SHUM Kei-leong, Timon^{[Note 19]}
• Mr KO Wai-hung, David^{[Note 20]}
• Miss HO Wai-yang^{[Note 21]}
• Ms CHEUNG Tin-ngan, June^{[Note 22]}
• Miss NG Chung-yee, Debbie
• Ms HEUNG Shuk-han, Veronica^{[Note 23]}
• Ms TO Kit-ling, Doris^{[Note 24]}
• Ms SHUI Kelly
• Ms CHENG Kam-lin, Catherine^{[Note 25]}
• Mr CHAN Ping-chau, Kenneth
• Mr LEE Siu-ho^{[Note 26]}
• Mr CHOW Chi-wei, Raymund^{[Note 27]}
• Ms CHU Yuen-yee, Isabella^{[Note 28]}
• Mr CHAN David^{[Note 29]}
• Ms WONG Nga-yan, Peony^{[Note 30]}
• Mr WONG Sze-cheung, Colin^{[Note 31]}
• Ms SO Ka-yin, Rita^{[Note 32]}
• Miss LEE Kar-lok, Jacqueline^{[Note 33]}
• Mr HO Chun-yiu, Stanley^{[Note 34]}
• Ms SOONG Wing-sum, Michelle^{[Note 35]}
• Ms LEUNG Ka-kie^{[Note 36]}
• Ms TSUI May-har, Stephanie^{[Note 37]}
• Ms LEUNG Siu-ling, Jocelyn^{[Note 38]}
• Mr IP Kai-leung, Jacky^{[Note 39]}
• Mr PANG Leung-ting^{[Note 40]}
• Ms CHUNG Ming-sun, May^{[Note 41]}
• Miss CHAN Lo-yee, Louise^{[Note 42]}
• Mr WONG Ching-yu, Edward
• Mr LAM Tsz-kan, Gary
• Mr LEUNG Man-liang, Matthew^{[Note 43]}
• Miss LAU Suk-han
• Mr MOK Tze-chung, Andrew
• Miss LEUNG Nga-yan, Frances
• Mr LAM Hei-wei, Arthur
• Ms CHOW Wai-choo, Monica^{[Note 44]}
• Ms CHAK Kwok-yee, Anny^{[Note 45]}
• Mr LAM Chak-ming, Maurice^{[Note 46]}
• Ms YEUNG Yee-na, Eleanor^{[Note 47]}
• Miss SIU Chi-wan, Jo^{[Note 48]}
• Mr LUNG Gwun-ting, Bryan^{[Note 49]}
• Miss WAT Lai-man, Minnie
• Mr YU Chun-cheung, Peter
• Mr SZE Cho-yiu, Jeffrey^{[Note 50]}
• Mr PUN Wang-hon, Dominic^{[Note 51]}
• Miss LO Hong-wai, Charmaine
• Miss HO Wai-han, Vivian
• Mr CHAN Chee-fai, Philip
• Mr TSANG Chung-yiu
• Miss LEE Wai-wan, Vivian
• Mr TSANG Hing-tung
• Mr CHU Man-hon, Gary
• Mr LI Ngai, Ross

Eligibility and retirement

Since 2019, the retirement age for magistrates is 65.^[91]

List of chief magistrates since 1997

No.	Name	Tenure start	Tenure end	Tenure length	Reason for tenure end	Later most senior judicial role
1	Louis Tong Po-sun	2 March 1998	2 October 2000	2 years and 215 days	Appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance	Same (retired)
2	Patrick Li Hon-leung	3 October 2000	1 February 2007	6 years and 122 days	Appointed District Court Judge	Judge of the Court of First Instance (retired)
3	Tong Man	2 July 2008	15 September 2013	6 years and 122 days	Retired	None (retired)
4	Clement Lee Hing-nin	11 March 2014	2 January 2018	3 years and 298 days	Appointed District Court Judge	Same
5	Victor So Wai-tak	6 January 2020	Incumbent	5 years and 127 days

Gallery of magistrates' courts

• Existing magistrates' courts
• 
  Eastern
• 
  Fanling
• 
  Kowloon City
• 
  Kwun Tong
• 
  Sha Tin
• 
  Tuen Mun
• 
  West Kowloon

• Former magistrates' courts
• 
  Western Magistracy
• 
  North Kowloon Magistracy
• 
  Central Magistracy
• 
  South Kowloon District Court
• 
  Fanling Magistracy
• 
  Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court

See also

• Hong Kong portal
• Law portal

• Judiciary of Hong Kong

Notes

1. Previously sat as District Court Registrar,^[8] a Deputy District Judge and Presiding Officer of the Lands Tribunal.^[9]
2. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 9 June 2023.^[10] Previously sat as a Coroner.^[11]
3. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[12]
4. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[13]
5. Sitting as a District Court Master until 30 June 2023.^[14] Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge.^[15]
6. Previously sat as a High Court Master^[16] and as a Deputy District Judge.^[17]
7. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[18]
8. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 30 June 2023.^[19] Previously sat as a Coroner.^[20]
9. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court until 11 August 2023^[21]
10. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 12 May 2023.^[22] Previously sat as Principal Adjudicator (Acting) of the Small Claims Tribunal.^[23]
11. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[24]
12. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[25]
13. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court^[26]
14. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 3 February 2023^[27]
15. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 4 March 2023^[28]
16. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 30 June 2023^[29]
17. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[30]
18. Sitting as Deputy District Judge until 1 September 2023.^[31] Previously sat as Principal Presiding Officer (Acting) of the Labour Tribunal and as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court.^[32]
19. Sitting as a Labour Tribunal Presiding Officer.^[33] Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge.^[34]
20. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[35]
21. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court until 13 May 2023.^[36] Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge and Presiding Officer of the Lands Tribunal^[37] and as a District Court Master.^[38]
22. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 9 June 2023.^[39] Previously sat as a District Court Master.^[40]
23. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[41]
24. Sitting as a High Court Master until 20 March 2023.^[42] Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court.^[43]
25. Previously sat as a District Court Master^[44]
26. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge and Presiding Officer of the Lands Tribunal until 5 May 2023.^[45] Previously sat as a High Court Master^[46] and as a District Court Master.^[47]
27. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court^[48] and as a Coroner.^[49]
28. Sitting as a District Court Master until 17 March 2023.^[50] Previously sat as a Small Claims Tribunal Adjudicator^[51]
29. Sitting as a High Court Master until 16 July 2023.^[52] Previously sat as Principal Presiding Officer of the Labour Tribunal^[53] and as a Deputy District Judge.^[54]
30. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[55]
31. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[56]
32. Sitting as a High Court Master until 15 May 2023.^[57] Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court^[58] and as a District Court Master.^[59]
33. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Court until 15 September 2023.^[60] Previously sat as a District Court Master.^[61]
34. Sitting as a Coroner.^[62] Previously sat as a High Court Master^[63] and a Deputy District Judge.^[64]
35. Sitting as District Court Registrar until 12 May 2023.^[65] Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge and Presiding Officer of the Lands Tribunal.^[66]
36. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 31 March 2023^[67]
37. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 30 June 2023.^[68] Previously sat as a Coroner.^[69]
38. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 2 June 2023.^[70] Previously sat as a District Court Master.^[71]
39. Previously sat as a Deputy District Judge^[72]
40. Sitting as Deputy District Judge until 8 September 2023.^[73]
41. Sitting as a High Court Master until 27 September 2023.^[74]
42. Sitting as a Deputy District Judge until 30 June 2023.^[75] Previously sat as a District Court Master.^[76]
43. Sitting as a High Court Master until 30 November 2023.^[77] Previously sat as a District Court Master.^[78]
44. Sitting as a Coroner^[79]
45. Sitting as a District Court Master until 22 September 2023.^[80] Previously sat as a Small Claims Tribunal Adjudicator.^[81]
46. Sitting as a District Court Master until 22 April 2023^[82]
47. Sitting as a District Court Master until 2 June 2023.^[83] Previously sat as a Labour Tribunal Presiding Officer.^[84]
48. Sitting as a Labour Tribunal Presiding Officer^[85]
49. Sitting as a District Court Master until 9 June 2023.^[86] Previously sat as a Small Claims Tribunal Adjudicator.^[87]
50. Sitting as a Small Claims Tribunal Adjudicator^[88]
51. Sitting as a District Court Master until 28 April 2023.^[89] Previously sat as a Labour Tribunal Presiding Officer.^[90]