Court to refine arrangements for jury proceedings and District Court Registry
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The Judiciary announced today (August 12) some adjustments to the arrangements for jury proceedings and the registry operation at the District Court from August 17 (Monday) having regard to the latest public health situation and operational experience with reduced capacity. All other arrangements as announced on July 21 and 28 remain valid.
For jury proceedings, jury trials and death inquests involving juries scheduled to commence between August 17 to September 30 will be adjourned, unless the parties have been notified that the case will proceed as scheduled.
On registry business, to compress people flow, the Judiciary has reduced staffing capacity and shortened the operating hours for registries and accounts offices. While the situation is generally manageable at most levels of court, there are long queues in the morning at the District Court for obtaining tickets for registry business.
Taking into account the above situation, the space constraints of the Wanchai Law Courts Building ("WLCB"), and the limited capacity of the District Court registry and accounts office, the Judiciary has decided to replace the existing ticketing arrangement with a new crowd-management approach. Specifically, starting from August 17 :
(a) the ticket system will be suspended. Court users will be required to go directly to the registry and accounts office on 6/F for services;
(b) there will be crowd control at the registry and accounts office and social distancing requirements at the registry and accounts office throughout the opening hours;
(c) a queuing arrangement at the designated area on the Ground Floor of the WLCB and/or a special lift control arrangement for accessing 6/F will be put in place where necessary; and
(d) services will not be provided to court users who arrive at the registry or accounts office after 4.30pm.
The above new crowd control arrangements require full co-operation of court users. The Judiciary appeals to all court users to avoid coming to the registry and account office at peak hours such as late mornings and late afternoons.
The Judiciary will closely monitor the situation and, if necessary, will make further refinements to the above arrangements.
For enquiries regarding the above changes, court users may call the following hotlines from Monday to Friday 8.45am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm (except public holidays):
- General Information: 2869 0869
- High Court: 2523 2212
- District Court: 2845 5696
- Coroner's Court: 3916 6204
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 strongly advised to check the website for updated information.
Ends/Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Issued at HKT 12:01
Issued at HKT 12:01
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