Judiciary Administration

In the past year, we have been working on 15 pledges, of which:

The following sets out the detailed report for each main programme area.

Improving Efficiency

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1995 1. Subject to the outcome of a pilot scheme, to enhance the use of Chinese in the District Court and higher courts by introducing simultaneous interpretation in court proceedings at a capital cost of $130 million and an annual recurrent cost of $8 million, and to strengthen consecutive interpretation services in court proceedings. It was concluded in 1996 after the pilot scheme that simultaneous interpretation should not be introduced in court proceedings because material mistakes, if any, made through simultaneous interpretation may go unnoticed and could result in a miscarriage of justice.
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1996 2. To examine the feasibility of implementing Phase III of our computerisation programme in 1997-98. Contract negotiation for consultancy service is being conducted.
1996 3. To speed up trials by extending digital audio recording and transcription services to all levels of court. We aim to provide a bilingual court reporting service to support the use of Chinese in court. All courts outside the High Court were equipped with digital audio recording and transcription services. The recording system is being introduced in the High Court to replace the old methods of court reporting.
1995 4. To start a two-year programme to modernise court buildings and install new facilities, including closed circuit television links for witness protection, audio-visual equipment, interactive voice processing systems and electronic security systems, at a capital cost of $60 million. Installation of new facilities was partly completed.
1995 5. To implement a package of measures to improve the management of court services at an annual recurrent cost of $16 million:

  • by reconstituting the supporting teams for Judges in the District Court and Supreme Court (now known as High Court) to enable more flexible and efficient staff deployment and to enhance the flow of work and information; and

  • by reorganising the registries at all levels of the courts to streamline distribution of work, help train and retain staff with expertise and improve efficiency generally.
The reconstitution of court supporting teams for District Judges was completed while that for other courts is being looked into. Reorganisation of registries in various courts was almost completed.
1995 6. To launch improvements to be phased over four years to provide a better and more user-friendly environment for court users and, at the same time, to improve the working environment of court buildings for the benefit of court staff. The improvement work scheduled for the first two years was completed, such as refurbishment of general registries, accounts offices and public service areas in some court buildings.
1995 7. Subject to the outcome of the feasibility study now under way, to begin implementation of the second phase of the Judiciary's computerisation programme which will be able to achieve the following improvements in service by 1997-98:

  • The proposed "electronic court diary" will enhance flexibility in scheduling trials and maximise courtroom utilisation.

  • The proposed electronic legal reference database and electronic networking with both local and overseas law libraries will improve the legal reference and library services to the Judiciary and the legal profession. This will assist judges in their case research and help improve the quality of justice.

  • Human resource and operations management of the Judiciary will be automated.

The implementation of the second phase of the computerisation programme is being carried out.
1994 8. To establish five additional courts at various levels in 1995-96 at an annual recurrent cost of $17 million to handle cases involving the Bill of Rights and equal opportunities. Cases of administrative law and those under the Sex Discrimination and Disability Discrimination Ordinances were dealt with by the setting up of specialist lists. The impact of the operation of the lists are being monitored for longer-term assessment on the setting up of specialist courts.
Action in Progress: Behind Schedule
1996 9. To enhance the operation of the District Court by seeking to introduce legislation in late 1996:

  • to raise the financial limits for jurisdiction of various proceedings to levels which reflect the rate of inflation since the last adjustment exercise in 1988 and keeping abreast of present day needs; and

  • to increase penalties for contempt of court. We will also increase the penalty for offences which hinder the smooth operation of courts.
A bill was introduced into the Legislative Council in November 1996 to amend the District Court Ordinance. The Bill lapsed at the end of the last legislative session. Director of Administration advised that a new Bill could be introduced into the 1998-99 legislative session. Since the proposed amendment aimed to raise the financial jurisdiction of the District Court and the level of penalties the court may impose, the lapse of the Bill has not affected the efficiency of the court.
1996 10. To streamline the procedures of the District Court in late 1996 by revising its rules in line with those of the Supreme Court (now known as High Court). The revamp of the District Court Rules is contingent upon the amendments to the District Court Ordinance. A bill was introduced into the Legislative Council in November 1996 to amend the District Court Ordinance. The Bill lapsed at the end of the last legislative session. The Rules will be revised when the District Court Ordinance is amended in the 1998-99 legislative session. Since the proposed amendment are mainly technical in nature , the lapse of the Bill has not affected the efficiency of the Court.
1996 11. To improve the operation of the Labour Tribunal by seeking to introduce legislation in early 1997, including measures to deter parties from wilfully wasting the Tribunal's time. The bill to amend the Labour Tribunal Ordinance is under preparation. It takes more time than expected to draft the bill. Since the amendment is related to measures deterring wasting court time, the delay has not affected the operation and efficiency of the Tribunal.
1996 12. To improve the operation of the Small Claims Tribunal by seeking to introduce legislation in early 1997:

  • to allow the transfer of cases inappropriately lodged in the Small Claims Tribunal to other courts, and

  • to raise the financial limit of the jurisdiction and introduce measures to deter parties from wilfully wasting court time.
The bill to amend the Small Claims Tribunal is under preparation. It takes more time than expected to draft the bill. Since the amendment is related to transfer of cases to other courts for the convenience of the claimants and raising the financial limit of the jurisdiction, the delay has not affected the operation and efficiency of the Tribunal.


Preparing for the Transition

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. To introduce the use of Chinese into the High Court (now known as Court of First Instance) for criminal proceedings in January 1997 and for civil proceedings in March 1997. Chinese will be introduced into the Court of Appeal in July 1997. Either or both of the official languages may be used in courts at all levels from 27 June 1997.
1996 2. To support the greater use of Chinese in courts and facilitate the electronic interchange of bilingual documents between Magistracies and 35 prosecution agencies in various departments and non-governmental organisations by upgrading the existing Case and Summons Management computer system in 1997-98. The existing Case and Summons Management computer system was upgraded in August 1997.
1995 3. To prepare for the establishment of the Court of Final Appeal on 1 July 1997, including the preparation of an appropriate building and the facilities required in 1996-97. The Court of Final Appeal was established on 1 July 1997.


Progress Report