Access for People with Disabilities
To ensure due administration of justice, the Judiciary is committed to making court proceedings equally accessible to all, including people with disabilities. In light of the varying needs and different communication methods or support requirements amongst people with disabilities, the Judiciary provides multiple accessibility aids and services with a view to making reasonable accommodation as appropriate for people with disabilities to facilitate their full and effective participation in judicial process.
General Facilities and Services for People with Disabilities available at Court Premises
Barrier-free access facilities and services to cater for different needs of court users with disabilities
- Ramps/ non-permanent portable ramps at main entrances
- Automatic doors at main entrances
- Accessible toilets
- Wheelchair access
- Accessibility signs and symbols indicating the availability of barrier-free access facilities
- Tactile-braille indicators and voice-announcement device in passenger lifts
- Tactile guide paths
- Braille and Tactile maps
- Audio and visual signals of emergency alarm systems
- Guide dogs are allowed to enter court premises
Facilities and services at Registries or Offices providing public services
- Low-leveled service counter tops
- Induction loop systems/ devices and other assistive listening devices and accessibility signs and symbols indicating the availability of the assistive listening devices at service counters
Since the various court premises are built in different periods with non-identical designs and facilities, there may be variations in the accessibility arrangements in each premises. For enquiries regarding barrier-free access facilities for individual premises, please contact the Access Officers during office hours.
Special Facilities and Services for Litigants, Witnesses and Legal Practitioners requiring Prior Arrangements
Special facilities and services that may be provided upon prior arrangements with the court to facilitate the participation of litigants, witnesses and legal practitioners with disabilities in court proceedings include:
- Infra-red headphones and audio-guide-like receivers in court hearings.
- Court-appointed professional sign language interpreters for court hearings. Special directions from the presiding Judges and Judicial Officers on individual case basis may be sought for the sign language interpreters to meet or communicate with the hearing impaired parties/witnesses before a court hearing to ensure effective communication.
- Masks with large transparent windows available for use by court staff where necessary. Exemption of mask requirement for court proceedings to facilitate lip reading may be allowed by presiding Judges and Judicial Officers upon request.
- Audio typing services in real time at court hearings for those who do not know sign language but are able to understand written/typed communication.
- Wheelchair access and designated space convenient for wheelchair users in specific courtrooms.
- Special document format – large print or electronic version.
For enquiries on prior arrangements for special facilities and services for individual court, please contact the relevant registry of the respective court during office hours.
Request for assistance in court proceedings/ hearings
As what takes place in a court proceeding/hearing is a matter of case and court management for the presiding Judge or Judicial Officer to decide, irrespective of the kind of assistance sought, the ultimate decision on the assistance requested will rest with the presiding Judge or Judicial Officer. To facilitate the consideration of reasonable and optimal accessibility aids or assistance to be provided to court users with disabilities, please complete the “Request for Assistance in court proceedings/ hearings” application form (downloadable here) and return it to the relevant registry of the respective court you will be attending as soon as you know the date and court venue, and preferably in no less than two weeks before the date of court attendance if possible. We will keep you posted of the outcome of your request as soon as practicable.
Access Co-ordinator and Access Officers for the Judiciary Premises
The Judiciary Administration has designated Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Corporate Services) as its Access Co-ordinator to co-ordinate accessibility issues:
Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Corporate Services)
Tel: 2867 2101
Fax: 2530 2615
The following Access Officers serve as the first point of contact on accessibility issues at each venue under the Judiciary’s management to ensure timely provision of appropriate barrier-free access facilities on site. Their contact details are set out below:
| Venue | Access Officer | Tel No. |
|---|---|---|
Court of Final Appeal |
Senior Judiciary Executive (Policy Support)1 | 2123 0019 |
| High Court 38 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong |
Senior Judiciary Executive (Accommodation)1 | 2867 2120 |
| District Court Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong |
Chief Judicial Clerk (Special Duties) | 2582 5363 |
| Family Court Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong |
Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court) | 2582 5370 |
| Eastern Magistrates' Courts Eastern Law Courts Building, 29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong |
First Clerk/ Eastern Magistrates' Courts | 2886 6756 |
| Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts Kowloon City Law Courts Building, 147M Arygle Street, Kowloon City, Kowloon |
First Clerk/ Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts | 2767 3281 |
| Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts Kwun Tong Law Courts Building, 10 Lei Yue Mun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon |
First Clerk/ Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts | 2772 9230 |
| Fanling Magistrates' Courts Fanling Law Courts Building, 1 Pik Fung Road, Fanling, New Territories |
First Clerk/ Fanling Magistrates' Courts | 2682 7710 |
| Shatin Magistrates' Courts Shatin Law Courts Building, 1 Yi Ching Lane, Shatin, New Territories |
First Clerk/ Shatin Magistrates' Courts | 2694 2309 |
| Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts Tuen Mun Law Courts Building, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories |
First Clerk/ Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts | 2452 8222 |
| Lands Tribunal 38 Gascoigne Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon |
Chief Judicial Clerk (Lands Tribunal) |
2170 3815 |
| Labour Tribunal 36 Gascoigne Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon |
Registrar/ Labour Tribunal | 2625 3200 |
| West Kowloon Law Courts Building 501 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon |
Senior Judiciary Executive (West Kowloon Law Courts Building) | 3916 6551 |
| Tsuen Wan Law Courts Building 70 Tai Ho Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories |
Senior Judiciary Executive (West Kowloon Law Courts Building) | 3916 6551 |
For enquiries regarding barrier-free access facilities on site, please contact the above Access Officers during office hours.