Technology Court Operation Manual

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Video Conferencing (VC)
• 3. Electronic Bundles in Portable Document Format
• 4. Multimedia Evidence Presentation
• 5. Internet Connectivity
• 6. Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) on Hearing of Vulnerable Witnesses
• 7. Real-time Court Reporting and Transcription Service Ready
• Appendix I Overview of Technology Court Floor Plan and Equipment
• Appendix II Overview of Court Lobby of Technology Court and Equipment

1. Introduction

The Judiciary of HKSAR has established the most technologically advanced courtroom in Hong Kong. The setting up of this Technology Court is aimed to meet the changing needs and to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of court services by providing to the court users a wider range of technology-based facilities. Through the use of integrated audio, video and electronic documentation and exhibit handling system and other enhanced services, court users can conduct proceedings at trial with the assistance of electronic documents, real-time transcripts, video recordings or multimedia presentations.

Court users are strongly advised to read the Practice Direction No. 29 and the related Appendix attached thereto before making arrangement for the use of the Technology Court facilities. The above documents can be accessed at the website of the Judiciary of Hong Kong SAR at http://www.judiciary.hk .

The court users are encouraged to take advantage of the facilities and equipment provided in the Technology Court. In addition to the Practice Direction and the Appendix, this guide sets out the operation and technical specifications of the Technology Court facilities. For any enquiries, please contact the officer in charge of the Technology Court as listed out in the Practice Direction No. 29.

2. Video Conferencing (VC)

2.1 Facilities & Specifications

Video Conferencing facilities in the Technology Court provide a direct video link between any locations having similar service provision for real-time video, audio and data communication and transmission. Pursuant to the Practice Direction, prior arrangement has to be made in order to ensure equipment compatibility and image shooting position.

The technical specifications of the video conferencing facilities are as follows:

1. (a) Video Conferencing Unit

   Usage:

   Establish Video Conference connection between the VC Unit in the Technology Court and the VC Unit(s) in remote site(s).

   Specification:

   Protocol	ITU H.323, SIP and H.320 compliant
   Connection	Internet
   Speed	Up to 6 Mbps
   MCU compatibility	H.241 and H.231
   Video resolution	From 352x240 up to 1920x1080
   Security	Embedded encryption
   Multi-site conference	Up to nine (9) remote sites

2. (b) Camera, Speakers & Microphone

   Usage:

   Capture local image and voice for video conferencing for Judge, Clerk, Witness or Counsel. The audio feed has been integrated with the Sound System of the Technology Court and the standard Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Services System with the use of speakers and provision of audio recording of proceedings.

2.2 Applications for Use

Without repeating the Practice Direction, the party or parties should make their own prior arrangement with the local authority, if so required, and apply the use of video conferencing facilities with the local telecommunication service provider in all locations where video conferencing will be held.

2.3 Cost

No fees or charges will be levied by the Judiciary for Internet connection. For updated information on usage charges, please refer to “Cost of Using the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

2.4 Party Responsibilities

The party requesting a video link will be responsible for a number of matters to ensure the smooth conduct of the video conference. These responsibilities are detailed as follows:

1. (1) It is the responsibility of the party or organisation requesting the video link to notify all conference participants of the details including but not limited to the venue, commencement time, duration and other relevant requirements or duties.
2. (2) Parties are requested to schedule a visit to the Technology Court and perform VC connection test with the remote site(s) 3 working days prior to actual use of VC.
3. (3) Parties are requested to attend the site 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the video link so as to allow VC operator to:
   • a)test the audio and video reception; and
   • b)obtain transmission details to be provided to the other site(s).
4. (4) For links to overseas site, parties should be mindful of the time differences between Hong Kong and the remote site and should provide such information to the court hearing the case as well as the Clerk of Court in the High Court.
5. (5) To address the impact caused by date and time zones difference for overseas connections, the requesting party may have to apply to court for special arrangement if the hearing is to be heard outside normal court sitting hours or office hours for the taking of the video conference.
6. (6) It is the responsibility of the party requesting the video conference to coordinate the booking of the remote site.
7. (7) As a general practice, the other site, be that local or overseas, should dial in to the Technology Court.
8. (8) Multimedia equipment are available at the Technology Court.

NOTES:

• The Technology Court operates up to a transmission speed of 6 Mbps. Connection may be made at a lower transmission speed owing to line faults, line quality or any other technical problem. Picture quality and sound quality will be degraded accordingly.
• End-to-end encryption is a mandatory requirement unless directed otherwise by the presiding JJO.
• The Judiciary will not be held responsible for equipment or network failures at any site.
• The Judiciary will not be held responsible for audio or visual faults caused by:
  • line faults or poor line quality in telecommunication networks
  • interference which may be caused by environmental factors at client site(s)
  • incompatible equipment joining the conference causing degradation in the quality of video and/or audio.

3. Electronic Bundles in Portable Document Format

3.1 Facilities

Electronic Bundles in Portable Document Format (EBPDF) could be used in the Technology Court and other courtrooms with audio-visual facilities. The EBPDF allows instantaneous retrieval of document and multimedia evidence from large volume of document bundles and display simultaneously on display monitors for use in the course of a hearing.

Apart from marking personal electronic annotations on the electronic documents, other features like centrally control broadcasting and electronic bookmarking are also provided by EBPDF.

3.2 Applications for Use

The party or parties wishing to apply should make inquiries with the Clerk of Court in High Court for the preparation guidelines and the availability of the Technology Court over the period of broadly covering the likely hearing date or dates in question. More time may apply, subject to complexity of document involved. For details, please refer to “Applications for use of the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

3.3 Cost

The party or parties should bear the costs of data conversion charged by their service provider. No fees or charges will be levied by the Judiciary for the use of the Technology Court facilities. For updated information on usage charges, please refer to “Cost of Using the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

3.4 Parties’ Responsibilities

(1) Parties are responsible for the preparation of the electronic bundle in accordance with the requirements in the preparation guidelines which will be provided with the leave of the court.

(2) Parties are responsible for submitting the Electronic Bundle to the court and to other parties in the same way as paper document submission.

(3) The cost of preparing the Electronic Bundle for subsequent use in the Technology Court shall be borne by the parties.

(4) It is the responsibility of the party to try her best to submit virus-free and Trojan-free documents or files to the Technology Court.

(5) Parties are responsible for taking good care of facilities provided in the courtroom.

NOTES:

• The Judiciary will not be held responsible faults caused by quality of electronic document conversion.

4. Multimedia Evidence Presentation

4.1 Facilities & Specifications

The presentation of evidence can be conducted through the multimedia platform, incorporating audio, video, and digital signals with graphics, text, film, and computer animation. The following audio-visual equipment and provisions are available for use. Please refer to Appendix I for the locations of the respective facilities.

4.1.1 Blu-Ray/DVD/VCD/CD Playback Facilities

4.1.2 Multimedia Connection

Computer containing multimedia evidence could establish connection in a courtroom for playback.

• (a) Multi-format video and audio inputs

Specification:

• (b) Power Supply

4.1.3 Presentation Facilities & Specifications

• (a) Visualiser

Specification:

• (b) Wall Mounted Interactive Display

• (c) Desktop Pen-Touch LCD Monitor

4.1.4 Display Facilities

• (a) Desktop LCD Monitors

• (b) Portable LCD Monitor

• (c) Wall Mounted LCD Displays

• (d) Video Projection Screens

• (e) Digital Signage

4.1.5 Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Services (DARTS)

DARTS provides the following services:

• (a) Recording
• All the proceedings will be recorded digitally in FTR Gold format.

• (b) Playing back of audio
• With the leave of the court, playback of current and old audio can be done upon request.

• (c) Dubbing audio
• With the leave of the court, a DVD/CD-ROM copy of the audio record of the day's proceedings can be provided at a fee at the end of each hearing day upon request. The request should be made no later than 3 pm on the hearing day.

• (d) Transcription services
• With the leave of the court, both English and Chinese transcripts can be provided at a fee upon request.

5. Internet Connectivity

5.1 Facilities

The Technology Court provides wired broadband Internet connectivity. Firewall is installed in the network to minimize the risk of Internet attacks. Users can use their own portable computers and standard network cable to connect to the Internet with the leave of the court.s

5.2 Applications for Use

The party or parties wishing to apply should make inquiries with the Clerk of Court in High Court. For details, please refer to “Applications for use of the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

5.3 Cost

No fees or charges will be levied by the Judiciary for the use of the Technology Court facilities. For updated information on usage charges, please refer to “Cost of Using the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

5.4 Party Responsibilities

• (1) In making acceptable use of resources you must NOT:
  • attempt to circumvent or subvert system or network security measures.
  • engage in any activity that might be purposefully harmful to systems or to any information stored thereon, such as creating or propagating viruses, disrupting services, or damaging files or making unauthorized modifications to data.
  • use the Judiciary systems or networks as a staging ground for attempts to break into other systems or networks.
  • use the Judiciary systems or networks to launch attacks that interfere with or disrupt other systems or networks.
• (2) Parties are responsible for taking good care of the facilities provided in the courtroom.
• (3) Parties are responsible for protecting their own notebook computer and data stored in the computer against virus, Trojan, and hacker attacks.

6. Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) on Hearing of Vulnerable Witnesses

6.1 Facilities

The examination of vulnerable witnesses can be conducted via CCTV and the Technology Court performs the functions of a CCTV courtroom where the evidence of a vulnerable witness is to be taken at a remote site.

The audio and video signal of the secured Vulnerable Witness Room at a remote site can be picked up and transmitted for use inside the Technology Court and vice versa. With the assistance of the centralized control unit, the same functions of the panel control of all the audio and visual signal selection performed by the trial judge will be provided. The trial judge is able to view all concerning parties with the aid of respective designated cameras and LCD display units with picture-in-picture viewing function.

CCTV cameras installed in Technology Court will be designated for the capturing of the trial judge, the prosecution counsel, the defence counsel and the court interpreter, if so required. The respective audio signals are handled by the DARTS microphones. With the aid of the multimedia facilities, the defendant and the public will be able to see and hear the evidence of the vulnerable witness given at a remote site.

(Note: The face of the defendant will NOT be captured by any of the CCTV cameras owing to the nature of the mode of hearing.)

6.2 Applications for Use

The party or parties wishing to apply should make inquiries with the Clerk of Court in High Court as to the availability of the Technology Court over the period of broadly covering the likely hearing date or dates in question. For details, please refer to “Applications for use of the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

6.3 Cost

No fees or charges will be levied by the Judiciary for the use of the Technology Court facilities. For updated information on usage charges, please refer to “Cost of Using the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

6.4 Party Responsibilities

• (1) Parties are required to observe the governing rules as laid down in the Criminal Procedure Ordinance Cap. 221 of the Laws of Hong Kong on the use of CCTV facilities for the hearing of the evidence of a vulnerable witness.
• (2) Parties should apply to the court for leave to use the CCTV facilities on hearing of the evidence of a vulnerable witness.
• (3) Parties are requested to attend the site 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the video link so as to enable the CCTV operator to:
  • a) test the audio and video reception of both the Technology Court and the secured witness room,
  • b) perform adjustment and position pre-set of the camera setting of capturing the appearances of the parties in the Technology Court for their broadcast to the monitor at the secured witness room at a remote site.
• (4) Parties are responsible for taking good care of the facilities provided in the courtroom.

7. Real-time Court Reporting and Transcription Service Ready

7.1 Facilities

The Technology Court provides data network and audio connection for the use of real-time reporting and transcription services provided by service providers in the market with data and audio outlets at the access panel of the clerk table and a floor box in front of the clerk table as follows:

• (1) The service provider can make use of the Technology Court infrastructure by installing Real-time Court Reporting and Transcription Service equipment in the passageway between the clerk table and the first counsel bench, where the data and audio outlets are located;
• (2) The following 8 balanced line level outputs from the microphones of DARTS. The service provider can make use of the audio outputs for audio recording without setting up another set of microphones and mixers:

  XLR Connector	Microphones Mixed
  Audio Connector #1	Judges and Court Clerk
  Audio Connector #2	Witness, Court Interpreters (wireless microphones), Defendant, remote audio from Video Conference unit, remote audio from Vulnerable Witness Room, Presentation Area, Jury and Press
  Audio Connector #3	Prosecution counsel in the first row of counsel bench
  Audio Connector #4	Prosecution counsel in the second and third row of counsel benches
  Audio Connector #5	Defence counsel in the first row of counsel bench
  Audio Connector #6	Defence counsel in the second and third row of counsel benches
  Audio Connector #7	All
  Audio Connector #8	All

• (3) Interface cables, i.e. XLR to other audio jacks, are to be provided by the service provider;
• (4) The system installed by the service provider will share the broadband Internet service through Internet access to the service provider’s remote home server if so required.

7.2 Applications for Use

The party or parties should arrange their own service provider to provide real-time court reporting and transcription service. The party or parties, wishing to use this service at their own cost, should make inquiries with the Clerk of Court in High Court as to the availability of the Technology Court over the period of broadly covering the likely hearing date or dates in question. For details, please refer to “Applications for use of the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

7.3 Cost

The party or parties should bear the costs of the service charged by their service provider. No fees or charges will be levied by Judiciary for the use of the Technology Court facilities. For updated information on usage charges, please refer to “Cost of Using the Technology Court” in Practice Direction 29.

7.4 Party Responsibilities

• (1) Parties should apply to the court for the use of real-time court reporting and transcription service at the hearing of their case.
• (2) It is the responsibility of the requester to make the arrangements for the real-time court reporting and transcription service and to provide such necessary details relating to the case to the service providers.
• (3) The Judiciary will not be held responsible for the quality of the real-time court reporting and transcription service provided by the service providers.
• (4) The Judiciary will not be held responsible for equipment and the software used by the real-time court reporting and transcription service provided by the service providers.
• (5) Parties assume full responsibility for the equipment installed.
• (6) Parties, including the service provider of the real-time court reporting and transcription service, should not release real-time transcript to parties who is not a party to the case without prior approval of the judge.

Appendix I Overview of Technology Court Floor Plan and Equipment



Appendix II Overview of Court Lobby of Technology Court and Equipment