A working party will be launched to study solicitors' rights of audience in the higher courts, Chief Justice Andrew Li says.

The Working Party on Solicitors' Rights of Audience will consider whether these rights should be extended and, if so, the mechanism for dealing with the grant.

The Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Justice Bokhary will chair the group, which will comprise four other judges, a Department of Justice Law Officer, two barristers, two solicitors and a lay member.

Appointments will be made in June in consultation with the Secretary for Justice, the Bar Council Chairman and the Law Society President.

Mr Li said solicitors' rights of audience was a most important subject in the administration of justice.

He said a most important facet of the public interest is there must be the highest standards of advocacy before the courts, adding that this is essential for the proper administration of justice in an adversarial system. Another important facet is there should be a strong and independent Bar.