The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Judiciary announced today (May 22) that the registries and accounts offices of the following courts and tribunals will return to normal operation from May 25 (Monday):
(a) Court of Final Appeal;
(b) High Court;
(c) Competition Tribunal;
(d) District Court;
(e) Lands Tribunal;
(f) Magistrates' Courts
(g) Labour Tribunal;
(h) Obsence Articles Tribunal; and
(i) Coroner's Court.
All registry business for the above courts/tribunals will be conducted within the normal operating hours, i.e. from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays). These will include:
(a) search and inspection of cause books, case files, originating documents, judgments/orders etc, at the relevant registries;
(b) filing of applications for admission as a barrister or solicitor at the High Court Registry; and
(c) collection of documents deposited in the letter boxes/drawers/folders at the Master Clerks' Office.
For distraint cases at the District Court, applicants with more than one application should continue to apply for an appointment from the District Court Registry.
The special ticketing and triage systems for court users will cease from May 25. Court users should go directly to the relevant registries or accounts offices for services.
Despite the cessation of the special ticketing and triage arrangements, the Judiciary will continue to put in place appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of all people who enter and remain in judiciary premises. These measures include requiring all people entering Judiciary premises to undergo body temperature checks and wear surgical masks. To maintain social distancing, capacity limits will remain in force for areas such as court registries and accounts offices to avoid crowding. Where appropriate, queuing and other crowd management arrangements will continue to be in place to regulate the people flow. Court users are advised to check the updated information on the Judiciary website and follow the advice of the Judiciary staff and security personnel when they attend for court business.
For general enquiries, the following hotlines are operated from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays):
- General Information: 2869 0869
- Court of Final Appeal: 2123 0123
- High Court: 2523 2212
- Probate: 2840 1683
- District Court: 2845 5696
- Family Court: 2840 1218
- Lands Tribunal: 2771 3034
- Labour Tribunal: 2625 0020
- Small Claims Tribunal: 2877 4068
- Magistrates' Courts: 2677 8373
- Bailiff Section: 2802 7510
- Court Language Section: 2388 1364
The Judiciary will continue to post updated information, including Daily Cause Lists, all arrangements in relation to Judiciary business and advice to court users, on the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk). Court users are advised to check the website for updated information as necessary.
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