Regarding the magistrates' courts in Hong Kong, the upstairs answer has given a more detailed introduction. A magistrate refers to a judge who is engaged in trial work in a magistrate's court. It should be added that there are currently seven magistrates' courts in Hong Kong due to the closure of some magistrates' courts. Include Hong Kong Island Eastern Magistracy, Kowloon City Magistracy, Fanling Magistracy and Sha Tin Magistracy in New Territories East, Tsuen Wan Magistracy in New Territories West and Tuen Mun Magistracy.
At present, the Chief Justice of Hong Kong is Mr. Tang Wen. There are 6 Chief Judges, 65,438+00 special judges and others are ordinary permanent judges.
In addition, Hong Kong has a special Magistrates Ordinance. Magistrates, including permanent magistrates and special magistrates, are appointed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the basis of writs.
It should also be pointed out that before the return of Hong Kong, judges were called judges and magistrates were called magistrates. Therefore, the difference between judges and justices of the peace existed before the return of Hong Kong.
It is difficult to answer this question, which is more powerful, the magistrate or the judge. Because Hong Kong adheres to the principle of judicial independence, all magistrates and judges should have the same power. However, if we consider that the magistrate's court is the lowest criminal court in Hong Kong, the maximum sentence is two years' imprisonment and a fine of HK$ 654.38+million, while the District Court and the Court of First Instance of the High Court have jurisdiction over more serious crimes than the magistrate's court, and they are directed at the judgment of the magistrate's court. You can also appeal to the Court of First Instance of the High Court. Judges in local courts and high courts are called judges. According to the understanding of non-judicial professionals, in the field of criminal trial alone, the power of judges seems to be greater than that of magistrates.