Section 25:
Costs transparency
Rules should be adopted requiring solicitors and barristers (i) to disclose to their clients full
information as to the basis on which they will be charged fees; (ii) to provide them with the
best available estimates as to the amount of fees they are likely to be charged for the
litigation in question, by reference to stages of the proceedings and overall (in the case of
barristers, assuming that they continue to be instructed by the solicitors in the case); and (iii)
to update or revise such information and estimates as and when they may change, with
reasons given for any such changes.
Steps should be taken, including the promotion of legislation if necessary, to ensure that the
public is given access to information regarding barristers and solicitors relevant to a choice
of legal representation in connection with litigation or possible litigation, including
information concerning fees, expertise and experience to be made available by the
professional associations concerned or in some other appropriate manner.
Steps should be taken to compile benchmark costs for use in Hong Kong.
Provision should be made in Hong Kong to require the parties, periodically and as ordered,
to disclose to the court and to each other best available estimates of costs already incurred
and likely to be incurred in the case.