This Report provides an overview of the major events of the Judiciary during 2013. It also provides statistics on caseload and waiting time for various levels of court, and information about the operation of the Judiciary. I would, in particular, like to draw attention to the following –
 
Appointment of Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal
 
The Hon Mr Justice Joseph FOK was appointed a Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in October. Mr Justice FOK is a judge of eminent standing and reputation.
 
Civil Justice Reform (CJR)
 
The implementation of the CJR for the fourth year continues to be smooth and satisfactory on the whole. A longer time is required to assess the full impact, benefit and effectiveness of the CJR and the Civil Justice Reform Monitoring Committee will continue to monitor the working of the reformed civil justice system.
 
Relocation of the Court of Final Appeal
 
The Court of Final Appeal will be relocated to No. 8 Jackson Road with a view to enhancing its efficient and smooth functioning in this prestigious historic building. Works began last July and are expected to be completed in the first part of 2015. We look forward to relocating the Court of Final Appeal to its new premises in the second half of 2015.
 
 
We hope that you will find this Report useful and gain a better understanding of the work of the Judiciary.
 
 
 

Geoffrey Ma
Chief Justice

   


Review of 2013

 
Following tradition, the year began with the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year on 14 January, at which the Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA spoke about the integrity of the law, which is the foundation of the operation of the law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He explained the constitutional role of judges to administer justice in accordance with the law. Crucial to the resolution of court cases was the transparency in the judicial process, as demonstrated in the fact that save for limited exceptions, all court proceedings are open to the public, and in the established practice of providing reasons for judicial decisions. He also spoke about the independence of the Judiciary, which underpinned the integrity of the law, as well as about the significant contribution from eminent judges from overseas common law jurisdictions who sit on the Court of Final Appeal.
 
Exchanges with other Jurisdictions
 
In 2013, our Judges and Judicial Officers attended various conferences and seminars for exchanges with their counterparts from other jurisdictions. In particular, the Chief Justice attended the 15th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific held in Singapore in October, among events in Auckland, London, Hsinchu (Taiwan) and Zurich. He also called on the President of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China in July.
 
Appointment of Judges and Judicial Officers
 
Many judicial appointments were made in the year 2013. Most notable were the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Joseph FOK as a Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN, the Hon James SPIGELMAN and the Hon William GUMMOW as Non-Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal, the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM as a Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Andrew MACRAE as a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, and the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM, the Hon Mr Justice Peter NG, the Hon Mr Justice Kevin ZERVOS, and the Hon Madam Justice Anthea PANG as Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.
 
Caseload and Case Disposal
 
In general, there have not been great fluctuations in the caseload and numbers of cases disposed of. As regards waiting times, the majority of the performance targets at various levels of courts were achieved. A few targets in the High Court were not met. One of the main reasons for this was the temporary constraints in the deployment of judicial manpower in the High Court. The Judiciary has completed an establishment review. The review finds that additional resources are needed for the creation of additional judicial (and support staff) posts for the Court of Appeal to enable it to cope with the increased workload. The review also finds that additional resources are needed for the creation of additional judicial posts at various levels of court for covering the absence of Judges and Judicial Officers for attending training and dealing with judicial education matters. The Judiciary has conveyed its resource requirements to the Administration, in accordance with the budgetary arrangements agreed between the Judiciary and the Administration in 2005.
 
Membership of Boards and Committees
 
The Chief Justice appointed Judges and Judicial Officers and invited representatives from the legal profession and relevant government departments and some lay members to sit on a number of boards and committees to contribute valuable views to issues that are important to the operation of the Judiciary. These boards and committees include the Civil Justice Reform Monitoring Committee, Working Party on Mediation, Civil Court Users’ Committee, Criminal Court Users’ Committee and Family Court Users’ Committee, the Governing Body of the Hong Kong Judicial Institute.
 
Visits and Visitors to the Judiciary
 
In 2013, the Judiciary arranged about 280 visits for more than 8400 visitors. Among all, most visitors are local students. We treasure all opportunities to meet with visitors and introduce to them different aspects of the operation of the Judiciary.
 
 
You are cordially invited to visit our Photo Gallery for various memorable moments of the Judiciary in 2013.
 


Highlights of Events in 2013

January
1 Mr CHOW Ka-ming, Anderson, SC was re-appointed Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
7 Mr LEE Wan-tang, Mr CHAN Ka-shun, Wilson, Dr LEONG Kwok-on, Harold and Mr YEE Kai-siu, Kent were appointed District Judges

Miss WONG Sze-lai was appointed Magistrate
7 The Hon Robert Shenton FRENCH AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, visited the Judiciary
11 Mr LAM Wan-ho, Godfrey, SC was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
11 A 14-member delegation of the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Republic of Korea visited the Judiciary
12 The term of office of the Rt Hon the Lord HOFFMANN, Non-Permanent Judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal, was extended for a period of three years
14 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA declared opening of the 2013 Legal Year
25 A 16-member delegation from the China University of Political Science and Law visited the Judiciary
February
1 Mr NG Kar-fai, Peter, SC was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
18 A six-member delegation led by the Lord WEI, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for East Asian Business of the United Kingdom, visited the Judiciary
March
1 Mr POW Wing-nin, Jason, SC; Ms WONG Kwok-ying, Lisa, SC; Mr COLEMAN Russell Adam, SC; and Mr HOUGHTON Anthony Kenneth, SC were appointed Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
4-5 Deputy High Court Judge Anthea PANG, Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the Training for Commonwealth Judges – Crown Court Trial Seminar in Coventry, the United Kingdom
7-9 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA gave a talk on the topic of “Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China: the Continuity of the Common Law Tradition” at the 19th Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration Oration in Judicial Administration in Auckland, New Zealand; participated in the Asia Pacific Courts Conference 2013 in Auckland; spoke at two lunch-time talks entitled “The Practical Application of the Law in Hong Kong: Practices and the Courts” organised by the New Zealand Law Society and “The Future of the Common Law in Hong Kong” at the University of Auckland; and met with his counterparts including the Chief Justice of New Zealand and President of Court of Appeal of New Zealand
April
12 Ms Bina CHAINRAI, Mr Timothy Harry CASEWELL, Mr LAW Tak-chuen, Peter, Ms WOO Huey-fang, Bernadette, Mr LEE Hing-nin, Clement and Mr LUI Kin-man, Simon were appointed Principal Magistrates
16 An eight-member delegation led by Attorney-General of Singapore Steven CHONG, SC, visited the Judiciary
27 The Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, delivered a talk at the School of Law of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou
May
15 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered a talk entitled “Common Law and its Tradition in Hong Kong” at the National University of Singapore
15-17 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA; the Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG, Chief Judge of the High Court; the Hon Mr Justice BHARWANEY and the Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM, Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the Fourth Judicial Seminar on Commercial Litigation 2013 in Singapore. His Honour Judge Herbert AU-YEUNG, District Judge, visited the courts of Singapore and met with the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore
16 A 30-member delegation of judges attending the 7th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges at the Law School of the City University of Hong Kong visited the Judiciary
18-22 The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the INSOL Tenth Multinational Judicial Colloquium on Insolvency and the Ninth Quadrennial Congress of INSOL International in the Hague, the Netherlands
20 A 10-member delegation of the Judicial Reform Steering Group of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China visited the Judiciary
23 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered a talk entitled “Courage and the Law: Upholding the Dignity of the Individual” at the University of Zurich, Switzerland
24-25 Mr LIN Kam-hung, Ernest Michael, Principle Magistrate, attended the PRC Maritime Law Seminar in Shenzhen
28 Ms Li Mingrong, Deputy Chief Procurator of People's Procuratorate of Fujian Province of the People’s Republic of China, visited the Judiciary
28 Mr YU Mun-kee, Roy and Mr PANG Chung-ping were appointed District Judges
June
11 Mr PANG Ho-chuen, Lawrence was appointed Member of the Lands Tribunal
13 An eight-member delegation led by Mr WANG Xixin, Vice Dean of the Peking University Law School, visited the Judiciary
17 A 10-member delegation led by Mr Sherali RAHMANOV, Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, visited the Judiciary
July
3-5 Her Honour Judge Sharon D MELLOY, District Judge, attended the 2nd International Family Law and Practice Conference 2013 on “Parentage, Equality and Gender” in London, the United Kingdom
8-9 A group of 15 law students from Shantou University of the People’s Republic of China visited the Judiciary
8-12 Mr LUI Kin-man, Simon, Temporary Registrar of the District Court, attended the Judicial Governance Programme in Singapore
16-19 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA, the Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal and the Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG, Chief Judge of the High Court, visited Beijing to meet with officials from the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China, the Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council
17-19 The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and Deputy High Court Judge Bebe CHU, Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 15th Anniversary Meeting of the International Hague Network of Judges held in London, the United Kingdom
22-24 The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; Deputy High Court Judge Bebe CHU; Deputy High Court Judge David LOK; Deputy High Court Judge Marlene NG, Deputy Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and His Honour Judge C K CHAN, District Judge, visited London, the United Kingdom to study the family procedure rules and modernisation of family justice
26 A six-member delegation led by the Hon Bob CARR, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited the Judiciary
29 The Hon James SPIGELMAN and the Hon William GUMMOW were appointed Non-Permanent Judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal
August
1 The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM was appointed President, Competition Tribunal and the Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG was appointed Deputy President, Competition Tribunal
8 An 11-member delegation from the Guangdong Higher People’s Court of the People's Republic of China visited the Judiciary
22-23 The Hon Mr Justice Peter NG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the International Commercial Law and Arbitration Conference in Sydney, Australia
22-24 The Hon Madam Justice Mimmie CHAN, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, spoke at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators International Arbitration Conference 2013 in Penang, Malaysia
30 Mr Justice BIRSS, Judge of the Patents County Court and Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal of the United Kingdom, visited the Judiciary
September
1 The terms of office of the Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK and the Hon Mr Justice Michael J HARTMANN, Non-Permanent Hong Kong Judges of the Court of Final Appeal, were extended for a period of three years
2 A six-member delegation from the Justice Departments/Bureaux of the People's Republic of China visited the Judiciary
2 The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, was appointed Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
6 Mr VAN LOON Hans, Former Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, delivered a talk entitled “The International Hague Network of Judges and Cross-Border Judicial Communication” at the High Court
9 Ms Maura MCGOWAN QC, Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales, visited the Judiciary
11 Professor William SWADLING, Director of Graduate Studies (Taught Courses), Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford, visited the Judiciary
16 Mr Kevin Paul ZERVOS, SC was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
18 A seven-member delegation led by Vice President JIANG Bixin, Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China, visited the Judiciary
23-25 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA; the Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG, Chief Judge of the High Court; The Hon Mr Justice Derek PANG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; His Honour Judge S T POON, Chief District Judge; and Mr LEE Hing-nin, Clement, Acting Chief Magistrate, attended the Second Seminar of Senior Judges of Cross-Strait and Hong Kong and Macao in Hsinchu (Taiwan)
25-28 The Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, attended the Global Constitutionalism Seminar 2013 held at the Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, the United States
30 A 13-member delegation from the Court of Appeal, Region 9 of Thailand visited the Judiciary
October
16 The Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, delivered a talk at the National Judges College in Beijing
16 A 24-member delegation of judges attending the third Doctor of Juridical Science (Chinese Judges) Programme of the City University of Hong Kong visited the Judiciary
21 Ms Yoshimi OHARA of Japan Association of Arbitrators visited the Judiciary
21 The Hon Mr Justice Joseph P FOK was appointed Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal

The Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN was appointed Non-Permanent Hong Kong Judge of the Court of Final Appeal

The Hon Mr Justice Andrew C MACRAE was appointed Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
21-24 Ms CHEUNG Tin-ngan, June, Magistrate, attended the Asia Pacific Coroners Society Conference in Darwin, Australia
22 A seven-member delegation led by Justice LUO Dongchuan, Chief Judge and the President of the Fourth Civil Division, the Supreme People’s Court of the People's Republic of China, visited the Judiciary
22-24 A 10-member delegation led by WANG Shaonan, Director General of the Department of Judicial Administration and Equipment Management of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China, visited the Judiciary
22-24 The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM and the Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG, Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, and Mr HUI Ka-ho, Temporary Deputy Registrar of the High Court, attended the Competition Law Workshop for Asia-Pacific Judges in Gyeongju, Korea
23 A nine-member delegation led by Her Honour Justice Mata TUATAGALOA of the District Court of Samoa visited the Judiciary
25 The Hon Sir Anthony MASON, Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, delivered a talk entitled “Sitting as Non-Permanent Judge in the Court of Final Appeal for the Past 16 Years” at the High Court
25 Mr Duncan BAGSHAW, Registrar of LCIA-MIAC Arbitration Centre of the Republic of Mauritius, visited the Judiciary
27-30 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA attended the 15th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific in Singapore
31 A 45-member delegation from the Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers visited the Judiciary
November
11-13 The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA participated in the “Justice after Jackson” Conference in London; delivered talks at events organised by the University of Oxford and The Hong Kong Association respectively
15 Her Honour Judge Anthea PANG was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
25 Dr Richard CORNES of Essex University in the United Kingdom visited the Judiciary
26 Mr Vincent PIKET, Head of European Union Office to Hong Kong & Macao, visited the Judiciary
December
3 Members of the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services visited the Judiciary
4 Professor WANG Zhenmin, Dean of School of Law of Tsinghua University, visited the Judiciary
4-12 The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM and the Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG, Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, and Mr HUI Ka-ho, Temporary Deputy Registrar of the High Court, visited Brussels, Luxembourg and London to meet with relevant organisations specialised in competition law and competition-related procedural rules and litigation matters
9 The Rt Hon the Lord PHILLIPS of Worth Matravers, Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, delivered a talk entitled "Judges must not only be independent but must be seen to be independent - the birth of the UK Supreme Court" at the High Court
20 An 11-member delegation from the Guangdong Higher People's Court of the People's Republic of China visited the Judiciary


List of Judges and Judicial Officers

Court of Final Appeal
- Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
  The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA, GBM 
- Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal
  The Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN, GBM #
  The Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO 
  The Hon Mr Justice Robert TANG, SBS  
  The Hon Mr Justice Joseph P FOK  (w.e.f. 21.10.2013)
- Non-Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal
  The Hon Mr Justice John Barry MORTIMER, GBS 
  The Hon Mr Justice Henry Denis LITTON, GBM 
  The Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK 
  The Hon Mr Justice Michael J HARTMANN, GBS 
  The Hon Mr Justice S K S BOKHARY, GBM  
  The Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN, GBM  (w.e.f. 21.10.2013)
  The Hon Sir Anthony MASON, GBM  
  The Rt Hon the Lord HOFFMANN 
  The Rt Hon the Lord MILLETT 
  The Rt Hon Sir Thomas Munro GAULT 
  The Hon Mr Justice Murray GLEESON 
  The Rt Hon the Lord NEUBERGER of Abbotsbury 
  The Rt Hon the Lord WALKER of Gestingthorpe 
  The Rt Hon the Lord COLLINS of Mapesbury 
  The Rt Hon the Lord CLARKE of Stone-cum-Ebony 
  The Rt Hon the Lord PHILLIPS of Worth Matravers 
  The Hon Mr Justice James SPIGELMAN  (w.e.f. 29.7.2013)
  The Hon Mr Justice William GUMMOW   (w.e.f. 29.7.2013)
# Retired in 2013
High Court
- Chief Judge of the High Court
  The Hon Mr Justice CHEUNG 
- Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
  The Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK, V-P  
  The Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG, V-P 
  The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P  (w.e.f. 2.9.2013)
  The Hon Mr Justice Peter CHEUNG, JA 
  The Hon Madam Justice Maria C YUEN, JA 
  The Hon Madam Justice Susan KWAN, JA 
  The Hon Mr Justice Joseph P FOK, JA   (up to 20.10.2013)
  The Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU, JA  
  The Hon Mr Justice Michael V LUNN, JA 
  The Hon Mr Justice Aarif T BARMA, JA 
  The Hon Mr Justice Andrew C MACRAE   (w.e.f. 21.10.2013)
- Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  The Hon Mrs Justice Verina S BOKHARY 
  The Hon Madam Justice Clare-Marie BEESON, SBS #
  The Hon Mr Justice Azizul R SUFFIAD 
  The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHUNG 
  The Hon Mr Justice Louis TONG 
  The Hon Mr Justice Barnabas FUNG 
  The Hon Mrs Justice Judianna W L BARNES 
  The Hon Mr Justice S C POON 
  The Hon Mr Justice Darryl G SAW #
  The Hon Mr Justice Anthony TO 
  The Hon Mr Justice Peter J LINE 
  The Hon Madam Justice Maggie POON 
  The Hon Mr Justice Derek PANG 
  The Hon Mr Justice H C AU 
  The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS 
  The Hon Mr Justice Mohan T BHARWANEY  
  The Hon Mr Justice Andrew C MACRAE  (up to 20.10.2013)
  The Hon Mr Justice Ian C McWALTERS  
  The Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG 
  The Hon Mr Justice Patrick LI  
  The Hon Madam Justice Esther TOH  
  The Hon Mr Justice Louis CHAN  
  The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHAN  
  The Hon Madam Justice Mimmie CHAN  
  The Hon Mr Justice Anthony CHAN 
  The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM  (w.e.f. 11.1.2013)
  The Hon Mr Justice Peter NG  (w.e.f. 1.2.2013)
  The Hon Mr Justice Kevin P ZERVOS  (w.e.f. 16.9.2013)
  The Hon Madam Justice Anthea PANG  (w.e.f. 15.11.2013)
- Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
  Mr FUNG Pak-tung, Patrick, BBS, SC 
  Mr HO Ambrose, SBS, SC, JP 
  Mr JAT Sew-tong, SC, JP 
  Mr SHIEH Wing-tai, Paul, SC 
  Mr CHOW Ka-ming, Anderson, SC 
  Mr POW Wing-nin, Jason, SC   (w.e.f. 1.3.2013)
  Ms WONG Kwok-ying, Lisa, SC   (w.e.f. 1.3.2013)
  Mr COLEMAN Russell Adam, SC  (w.e.f. 1.3.2013)
  Mr HOUGHTON Anthony Kenneth, SC  (w.e.f. 1.3.2013)
- Deputy Registrars, High Court
  Mr HO Chi-yin, Andy 
  Mr LUNG Kim-wan 
# Retired in 2013
District Court
- Chief District Judge
  His Honour Judge S T POON 
- Principal Family Court Judge
  Her Honour Judge Bebe CHU 
- District Judges
  His Honour Judge Brian L de SOUZA #
  His Honour Judge Bruno CHAN 
  Her Honour Judge H C WONG #
  His Honour Judge Stephen CHOW 
  His Honour Judge Stephen J GEISER #
  His Honour Judge David LOK 
  Her Honour Judge Marlene NG 
  Her Honour Judge Susana M D'ALMADA REMEDIOS 
  His Honour Judge Kevin A BROWNE 
  His Honour Judge Michael WONG 
  His Honour Judge Joseph YAU 
  His Honour Judge Stanley CHAN 
  His Honour Judge C M LEUNG 
  Her Honour Judge Sharon D MELLOY 
  His Honour Judge Garry TALLENTIRE 
  His Honour Judge Eddie YIP 
  Her Honour Judge Katina LEVY 
  His Honour Judge C K CHAN 
  His Honour Judge Simon KWANG 
  His Honour Judge Albert WONG 
  His Honour Judge Frankie YIU 
  His Honour Judge K W WONG 
  His Honour Judge Justin KO 
  His Honour Judge Douglas YAU 
  Her Honour Judge Anthea PANG  (up to 14.11.2013)
  His Honour Judge W K KWOK 
  His Honour Judge Josiah LAM 
  His Honour Judge Anthony KWOK 
  His Honour Judge David J DUFTON 
  His Honour Judge S M SHAM 
  Her Honour Judge Amanda J WOODCOCK 
  His Honour Judge K H HUI 
  His Honour Judge Jack WONG 
  Her Honour Judge Katherine LO 
  His Honour Judge Johnny CHAN 
  His Honour Judge Gary LAM 
  His Honour Judge Andrew LI 
  His Honour Judge Herbert AU-YEUNG 
  His Honour Judge W T LEE  (w.e.f. 7.1.2013)
  His Honour Judge Wilson CHAN  (w.e.f. 7.1.2013)
  His Honour Judge Harold LEONG   (w.e.f. 7.1.2013)
  His Honour Judge Kent YEE   (w.e.f. 7.1.2013)
  His Honour Judge Roy YU   (w.e.f. 28.5.2013)
  His Honour Judge C P PANG  (w.e.f. 28.5.2013)
# Retired in 2013
Lands Tribunal
- Member, Lands Tribunal
  Mr LO Wai-kwong 
  Mr PANG Ho-chuen, Lawrence   (w.e.f. 11.6.2013)
Magistrates' Courts and other Tribunals
- Chief Magistrate
  Mr TONG Man, BBS  #@
- Principal Magistrates
  Mr LIN Kam-hung, Ernest Michael 
  Mr MA Hon-cheung, Andrew 
  Mr CHOW Siu-wo, Anthony 
  Mr TAM Lee-cheung 
  Ms CHAINRAI Bina   (w.e.f. 12.4.2013)
  Mr CASEWELL Timothy Harry   (w.e.f. 12.4.2013)
  Mr LAW Tak-chuen, Peter   (w.e.f. 12.4.2013)
  Ms WOO Huey-fang, Bernadette   (w.e.f. 12.4.2013)
  Mr LEE Hing-nin, Clement   (w.e.f. 12.4.2013)
  Mr LUI Kin-man, Simon   (w.e.f. 12.4.2013)
- Magistrates
  Ms CHAINRAI Bina  (up to 11.4.2013)
  Mr LI Wai-chi 
  Mr CHEUNG Wai-tat, Ronald 
  Mr WAHAB Abu Bakar bin 
  Mr CHAN Pik-kiu, Michael 
  Mr YUEN Wai-ming, Anthony 
  Mr CASEWELL Timothy Harry  (up to 11.4.2013)
  Mr LAW Tak-chuen, Peter  (up to 11.4.2013)
  Mr YU Mun-kee, Roy  (up to 27.5.2013)
  Ms KOT Sin-yee, Angela 
  Mr PANG Chung-ping  (up to 27.5.2013)
  Mrs WU CHAU Yuen-man, Mary 
  Mr AU See-hin, Selwyn Hason  
  Mr HUI Shiu-keung, Peter *
  Ms CHOW Yin-chu, Merinda 
  Mr LEE Ka-chai, Lambert 
  Ms WOO Huey-fang, Bernadette  (up to 11.4.2013)
  Mr WONG Yu-wing, Symon 
  Ms CHAN Ling-ling, Tracy 
  Mr CHAN Kam-cheong, Rickie 
  Mr TAM Kwok-wah 
  Mrs TSE CHING Adriana Noelle 
  Miss YIM Shun-yee, Ada 
  Mr WONG Wai-kuen 
  Mr LAI Tat-cheung, Reuden 
  Mr OWN George 
  Mr MAK Kwok-cheung 
  Mr TO Ho-shing 
  Miss CHAN Yuk-fan, Grace 
  Mr LO Kit-man, Simon 
  Mr LEE Hing-nin, Clement  (up to 11.4.2013)
  Mr CHEANG Kei-hong 
  Mr SO Man-lung, Don 
  Mr WONG Kwok-fai, Raymond 
  Ms CHAN Wai-mun 
  Miss CHOW Pok-fun, Josephine 
  Mr PANG Ka-kwong 
  Mr WONG Lai-wing 
  Mr HO Chin-pang, Dick 
  Mr LUI Kin-man, Simon  (up to 11.4.2013)
  Mr YIP Sue-pui, Lawrence 
  Mr SO Wai-tak 
  Dr CHEUNG Kwan-ming 
  Mr WAN Siu-ming, Jason 
  Miss CHUI Yee-mei, Ivy 
  Mr LI Kwok-wai 
  Mr LI Chi-ho 
  Ms WONG Susan 
  Ms LAU Yee-wan, Winnie 
  Mr TANG Siu-hung, Daniel 
  Mr CHEUNG Chi-wai, David 
  Mr CHENG Lim-chi 
  Ms LAM Mei-sze, Michelle 
  Mr CHUM Yau-fong, David 
  Mr SHUM Kei-leong, Timon 
  Mr KO Wai-hung 
  Miss HO Wai-yang 
  Ms CHEUNG Kit-yee 
  Ms CHEUNG Tin-ngan, June 
  Ms WONG Sze-lai   (w.e.f. 7.1.2013)
- Special Magistrates
  Mr TAM Ka-huen 
  Mr CHAN Chi-kim 
  Mr YU Cheuk-man #
  Miss NG Chung-yee, Debbie 
  Miss HEUNG Shuk-han, Veronica 
  Mr CHU Chung-keung 
  Mr SO Kai-cheung 
  Miss HO Lai-ming 
  Miss LAU Suk-han 
  Ms LEUNG Ka-kie 
* Left service in 2013
# Retired in 2013
@ It is with great sadness that Mr TONG Man passed away on 7.11.2013


Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Court of Final Appeal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL

  Caseload Disposal*
  2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
Applications for leave to appeal            
- Criminal 76 67 63 73
(49)		 57
(35)		 77
(46)
- Civil 46 46 50 49
(20)		 47
(13)		 50
(21)
Total 122 113 113 122 104 127
Substantive appeals            
- Criminal 12 14 8 12 13 13
- Civil 21 27 23 23 15 33
Total 33 41 31 35 28 46
Miscellaneous proceedings 0 0 3 0 0 2
* Case disposal refers to applications for leave to appeal/appeals which have been allowed, dismissed, withdrawn, abandoned or discontinued
  The figures in brackets indicate the number of applications dismissed under Rule 7 of the Court of Final Appeal Rules, Cap. 484A

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL

  Average Waiting Time (days)
  Target 2011 2012 2013
Applications for leave to appeal        
From notice of hearing to hearing        
-Criminal 45 38 40 40
-Civil 35 30 29 33
Substantive appeals        
From notice of hearing to hearing        
-Criminal 100 95 93 97
-Civil 120 102 105 111

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

High Court

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE HIGH COURT

Caseload Disposal *
  2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
Court of Appeal
Appellate
- Criminal
  Appeals from the Court of First Instance 162 162 158 114 185 168
  Appeals from the District Court 383 357 291 345 397 365
  Sub-total 545 519 449 459 582 533
- Civil
  Appeals from the Court of First Instance 230 239 233 166 201 195
  Appeals from the District Court 30 19 21 29 17 29
  Miscellaneous Appeals 31 25 27 25 35 18
  Sub-total 291 283 281 220 253 242
Review of Sentences
- Criminal
  Reviews from the Court of First Instance 2 1 2 3 2 2
  Reviews from the District Court 7 4 2 4 10 6
  Reviews from the Magistrates' Courts 2 2 0 1 2 2
  Sub-total 11 7 4 8 14 10
  Total 847 809 734 687 849 785
* Case disposal refers to appeals/reviews which have been allowed, dismissed, withdrawn, discontinued or abandoned with or without court order
Caseload Disposal *
  2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
Court of First Instance
Appellate
- Criminal
  Appeals from Magistrates' Courts 897 862 809 877 983 840
- Civil
  Appeals from Labour Tribunal 33 29 23 29 24 22
  Appeals from Small Claims Tribunal 38 70 53 37 58 53
  Appeals from Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board 6 6 2 8 7 3
  Miscellaneous Appeals 2 0 1 5 2 0
  Sub-total 79 105 79 79 91 78
  Total 976 967 888 956 1 074 918
               
First Instance
- Criminal Jurisdiction
  Criminal Cases 482 486 571 464 446 503
  Confidential Miscellaneous Proceedings 100 158 326 100 158 326
  Application for Discharge 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Sub-total 582 644 897 564 604 829
- Civil Jurisdiction
  High Court Actions 2 237 2 415 2 602 1 475 1 495 1 595
  Miscellaneous Proceedings 2 700 2 905 3 479 1 984 2 140 2 495
  Bankruptcy & Companies Winding-up+ 9 464 10 132 10 712 9 421 9 610 10 761
  Personal Injuries Actions 941 1 006 1 108 691 770 911
  Other cases # 545 649 593 265 282 226
  Sub-total 15 887 17 107 18 494 13 836 14 297 15 988
  Total 16 469 17 751 19 391 14 400 14 901 16 817
   
- Masters Chambers
  Interlocutory hearings** 20 405 22 137 23 194 18 506 19 706 21 556
  Taxation bills 678 581 603 561(1) 462(1) 444(1)
- Probate
  Applications 16 319 16 308 16 967 14 525(2) 16 935(2) 16 664(2)
* Case disposal refers to appeals which have been allowed, dismissed, withdrawn, discontinued or abandoned with or without court order; criminal cases where defendants have been convicted or acquitted; and civil cases where claims have been successfully made or dismissed
+ Cases include bankruptcy proceedings, companies winding-up proceedings, applications for Interim Order (Bankruptcy) and applications to set aside Statutory Demands
# Other cases include constitutional and administrative law proceedings, admiralty actions, adoptions, bill of sale registrations, book debt registrations, commercial actions, construction and arbitration cases, matrimonial causes, applications under the Mental Health Ordinance, probate actions and stop notices
** The caseload figure represents the number of interlocutory applications listed with hearings, and the disposal figure represents the number of the interlocutory applications heard in the reporting period
  Note (1) : Case disposal refers to taxation bills processed
  Note (2) : Case disposal refers to grants issued/grants resealed/estates administration completed by the Official Administrator in summary manner

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE HIGH COURT

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
Court of Appeal        
- Criminal - from setting down of a case to hearing 50 53 52 50
- Civil - from application to fix date to hearing 90 117 131 138
Court of First Instance        
- Criminal Fixture List - from filing of indictment to hearing 120 169 180 211
- Criminal Running List - from setting down of a case to hearing 90 79 72 83
- Civil Fixture List - from application to fix date to hearing 180 231 244 261
- Civil Running List - from setting down of a case to hearing 90 83 50 85
- Appeals from Magistrates' Courts - from lodging of Notice of Appeal to hearing 90 86 92 105

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

District Court

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE DISTRICT COURT

Caseload Disposal*
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Criminal Jurisdiction
  Criminal Cases 1 396 1 207 1 190 1 436 1 272 1 214
- Civil Jurisdiction
  Civil 4 994 4 517 5 154 3 715 3 591 3 779
  Tax Claim 5 169 4 143 3 035 4 773 3 692 2 990
  Distress for Rent 4 424 3 857 3 913 4 513 3 945 4 024
  Employee's Compensation 2 011 2 289 2 339 1 563 1 918 2 168
  Other civil cases + 5 796 6 041 6 195 4 388 4 969 5 156
  Sub-total 22 394 20 847 20 636 18 952 18 115 18 117
- Family Jurisdiction            
  Matrimonial Causes 18 374 19 164 18 651 15 933 17 272 18 323
  Joint Applications 4 169 4 091 4 309 3 664 3 853 3 948
  Miscellaneous Proceedings 317 298 319 244 270 315
  Adoption Applications 129 121 113 92 122 94
  Sub-total 22 989 23 674 23 392 19 933(1) 21 517(1) 22 680(1)
  Total (Civil) 45 383 44 521 44 028 38 885 39 632 40 797
  Total 46 779 45 728 45 218 40 321 40 904 42 011
               
- Masters Chambers            
  Interlocutory hearings** 7 631 7 530 7 462 6 786 6 432 5 879
- Taxation bills            
  Divorce 2 189 1 994 1 844 2 077 1 898 1 722
  Others 458 426 418 315 331 254
  Sub-total 2 647 2 420 2 262 2 392(2) 2 229(2) 1 976(2)
  Total 10 278 9 950 9 724 9 178 8 661 7 855
* Case disposal refers to those where defendants have been convicted or acquitted and those where claims have been successfully made or dismissed
+ Other civil cases include Miscellaneous Proceedings, Stamp Duty (Ordinance) Appeals, Equal Opportunities Actions, Personal Injuries Cases, Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Appeals, Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Appeals and Estate Agents Appeals
** The caseload figure represents the number of interlocutory applications listed with hearings, and the disposal figure represents the number of the interlocutory applications heard in the reporting period
  Note (1) : Case disposal refers to Decree Absolute granted and Adoption orders made
  Note (2) : Case disposal refers to taxation bills processed

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE DISTRICT COURT

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
Criminal - from first appearance of defendants in District Court to hearing
 100 86 62 60
Civil - from date of listing to hearing 120 72 96 91
Dissolution of marriage - from setting down of a case to hearing
       
- Special Procedure List
 35 33 33 33
- Defended List (one day hearing)
 110 107 98 108
- Financial applications - from filing of summons to hearing
 110-140 90 83 86

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Magistrates' Courts

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS

    Caseload Disposal *
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Charge Cases 35 243 34 360 34 250 34 843 34 322 34 521
- Hawker Cases 10 192 9 396 9 534 10 197 9 386 9 523
- Departmental & Private Summonses 185 102 192 566 184 221 184 862 189 123 188 949
- Driving-Offence Points Summonses 1 968 1 966 2 197 2 155 2 033 2 340
- Fixed Penalty Summonses (Traffic) 612 742 856 719 701 832
- Fixed Penalty Summonses (Public Cleanliness Offences) 319 244 164 343 248 175
- Fixed Penalty Summonses (Smoking Offences) 76 49 35 78 58 35
- Fixed Penalty Summonses (Vehicle Idling) 0 0 0 0 0 0
- Fixed Penalty Summonses (Mandatory Window Inspection)^ - 0 0 - 0 0
- Miscellaneous Proceedings 10 718 11 138 11 166 10 877 11 793 11 231
- Departmental Notice 824 789 764 846 796 770
- Fixed Penalty Notice (Traffic) 58 281 68 028 73 178 58 995 68 845 73 821
- Fixed Penalty Notice (Public Cleanliness Offences) 2 622 2 643 2 291 2 753 2 609 2 286
- Fixed Penalty Notice (Smoking Offences) 1 009 997 1 045 1 041 1 016 1 024
- Fixed Penalty Notice (Vehicle Idling) 0 0 1 0 0 1
- Fixed Penalty Notice (Mandatory Window Inspection)^ - 0 0 - 0 0
  Total 306 966 322 918 319 702 307 709 320 930 325 508
* Case disposal refers to cases where defendants have been convicted or acquitted after trial or hearing, pre-hearing payments of all penalties and costs, and applications which have been granted, refused, withdrawn or struck out
^ New case types pursuant to Section 30(C) of the Building Ordinance, Cap. 123 came into effect on 30.6.2012

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
Summonses - from plea to date of trial
50 54 54 66
Charge Cases - from plea to date of trial
        
- For defendants in custody
 30-45 38 41 41
- For defendants on bail
 45-60 51 51 49

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Lands Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL

    Caseload Disposal*
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Appeal cases 239 281 228 66 103 205
- Compensation cases 15 14 6 11 15 11
- Building management cases 407 367 346 333 292 337
- Tenancy cases 4 457 4 429 4 437 3 635 3 461 3 584
- Lands compulsory sale applications 48 60 17 29 33 45
- Miscellaneous proceedings applications 4 5 1 4 5 0
  Total 5 170 5 156 5 035 4 078 3 909 4 182
* Case disposal refers to appeals which have been allowed or dismissed and trials or hearings which have been concluded

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE LANDS TRIBUNAL

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
From setting down of a case to hearing        
- Appeal cases
 100 32 20 27
- Compensation cases 100 46 41 53
- Building management cases 100 35 25 39
- Tenancy cases 60 26 21 29

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Labour Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL

    Caseload Disposal*
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Claims 4 190 4 744 4 154 4 002 4 245 4 000
- Reviews 63 64 48 62 66 47
- Restore claims 67 54 37 61 60 34
- Set-aside awards 84 80 74 87 80 71
  Total 4 404 4 942 4 313 4 212 4 451 4 152
* Case disposal refers to claims which have been concluded, including claims awarded, dismissed, settled, withdrawn and transferred

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
- From appointment to filing of a case
 30 21 25 21
- From filing of a case to first hearing
 30 25 25 25

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Small Claims Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL

    Caseload Disposal*
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Claims 50 962 48 201 48 982 51 097 49 094 49 584
- Reviews 219 227 267 186 211 231
  Total 51 181 48 428 49 249 51 283 49 305 49 815
* Case disposal refers to claims which have been made successfully or dismissed

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
- From filing of a case to first hearing 60 38 39 37

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Obscene Articles Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL

    Caseload Disposal*
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Articles for determination
 27 159 60 313 41 820 28 645 59 146 16 841
- Articles for classification
 737 306 309 733 311 307
- Articles for review
 6 1 1 6 0 2
- Articles for reconsideration
 1 0 1 1 0 0
  Total 27 903 60 620 42 131 29 385 59 457 17 150
* Case disposal refers to those articles which have been determined or classified; those in respect of which determination or classification is not required with consent of both parties; and those in respect of which determination or classification has been reviewed or reconsidered

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
- From referral by a magistrate to determination
 21 21 21 16
- From receipt of application to classification
 5 3 2 2
- From receipt of application to review
 35 23 24 21
- From receipt of application to reconsideration
 35 24 - * 30
* As there is no application for reconsideration filed, the waiting time is inapplicable

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Coroner's Court

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE CORONER'S COURT

    Caseload Disposal*
    2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
- Death inquests with jury
 144 147 120 149 138 140
- Death inquests without jury
 33 31 36 33 26 36
  Total 177 178 156 182 164 176
* Case disposal refers to death inquests concluded

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE CORONER'S COURT

    Average Waiting Time (days)
    Target 2011 2012 2013
- From date of listing to hearing
 42 40 42 41


Membership List of
the Civil Justice Reform Monitoring Committee

- Chairman Chief Judge, High Court
- Members The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice H C AU
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice Mohan T BHARWANEY
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
Registrar, High Court
Chief District Judge
Deputy District Judge Simon LUI
Registrar, District Court
Mr Herbert LI
Department of Justice
Mr Thomas Edward KWONG
Legal Aid Department
Mr Kumar RAMANATHAN, SC
Hong Kong Bar Association
Mr Brian GILCHRIST
Law Society of Hong Kong
Mr CHAN Bing-woon, SBS, JP
Miss Emma LAU
Judiciary Administrator
- In Attendance Mr NG Sek-hon
Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
- Secretary Ms Wendy CHEUNG
Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)


Membership List of the Working Party on Mediation

- Chairman The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
- Members The Hon Mr Justice Barnabas FUNG
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice S C POON
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice H C AU
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
Deputy High Court Judge Bebe CHU
Registrar, High Court
His Honour Judge S T POON
Chief District Judge
Mr Simon LEE
Department of Justice
Mr Chris CHONG
Legal Aid Department
Ms Lisa WONG, SC
Hong Kong Bar Association
Mrs Cecilia WONG
Law Society of Hong Kong
Mr CHAN Bing-woon, SBS, JP
Mr John BUDGE, SBS, JP
- In Attendance Mr Esmond LEE
Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Development)
Ms April LAM
Senior Mediation Affairs Officer
- Secretary Ms April LEUNG
Senior Judiciary Executive (Development)2


Membership List of the Court Users' Committees

Civil Court Users' Committee

- Chairman The Hon Madam Justice Maria C YUEN, JA
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
(up to 6.11.2013)
The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
(w.e.f. 7.11.2013)
- Members The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
(up to 6.11.2013)
The Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU, JA
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice S C POON
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
(w.e.f. 7.11.2013)
Mr LUNG Kim-wan
Registrar, High Court
His Honour Judge S T POON
Chief District Judge
Miss Joyce CHAN
Department of Justice
Mr Thomas Edward KWONG
Legal Aid Department
(up to 6.11.2013)
Ms Sherman CHEUNG
Legal Aid Department
(w.e.f. 7.11.2013)
Mr Alan FONG
Official Receiver's Office
Mr Paul SHIEH, SC
Mr Thomas SO
Mr Bernard HUI
(up to 6.11.2013)
Mr Peter CHUA
(w.e.f. 7.11.2013)
- In Attendance Mr NG Sek-hon
Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
Mr Kenneth LIU
Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judge)2
- Secretary Ms Betty CHAN
Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Criminal Court Users' Committee

- Chairman The Hon Mr Justice Louis TONG
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
- Members The Hon Mr Justice Andrew C MACRAE, JA
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
The Hon Mrs Justice Judianna W L BARNES
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHAN
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
Mr LUNG Kim-wan
Registrar, High Court
His Honour Judge S T POON
Chief District Judge
Mr LEE Hing-nin, Clement
Chief Magistrate
Mr William TAM
Department of Justice
Mr CHAN Wing-cho, Allan
Legal Aid Department
Ms Grace WONG
The Duty Lawyer Service
Mr YAU Shu-chun, Ricky
Independent Commission Against Corruption
(up to 20.3.2013)
Mr SO Wing-keung, Raymond, IMS
Independent Commission Against Corruption
(w.e.f. 21.3.2013)
Mr Steven A CARRUTHERS
Hong Kong Police Force
(up to 27.1.2013)
Mr Matthew P J HEMMINGS
Hong Kong Police Force
(w.e.f. 28.1.2013)
Mr LAM Kwok-leung
Correctional Services Department
Mr WONG Man-kit, SC
Mr Stephen HUNG
Mr HO Yat-wan, Alec
- In Attendance Mr NG Sek-hon
Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
Ms Gloria POON
Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)1
- Secretary Ms Betty CHAN
Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Family Court Users' Committee

- Chairman His Honour Judge Bruno CHAN
Acting Principal Family Court Judge
- Members His Honour Judge S T POON
Chief District Judge
Her Honour Judge Sharon D MELLOY
Family Court Judge
His Honour Judge C K CHAN
Family Court Judge
Ms Doris LUI
Legal Aid Department
Mr FUNG Man-chung
Social Welfare Department
Ms Jacqueline LEONG, SC
Ms Corinne REMEDIOS
Mr Jonathan MOK
Mr Dennis HO
Ms Jain BROWN
- In Attendance Mr NG Sek-hon
Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
Ms Jackie LUI
Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court)
- Secretary Ms Betty CHAN
Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)


Membership List of the Governing Body of the Hong Kong Judicial Institute

- Chairman The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA, GBM
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
- Members The Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO
Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal
The Hon Mr Justice CHEUNG
Chief Judge of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK, V-P
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice Michael V LUNN, JA
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHAN
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
The Hon Madam Justice Mimmie CHAN
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
His Honour Judge S T POON
Chief District Judge
Mr LEE Hing-nin, Clement
Acting Chief Magistrate
Miss Emma LAU
Judiciary Administrator


Judiciary Administration

Judiciary Administration

Miss Emma LAU , Judiciary Administrator

Operations Division

Mr NG Sek-hon, Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
 
(a) Project Management Office Ms Catherine LEE Chief Systems Manager (Project Management Office) [up to 15.12.2013]
(b) Information Technology Office (Technical) Ms Catherine LEE Chief Systems Manager (Information Technology) [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
(c) Information Technology Office (Operational) Mr Anthony CHAN Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]Note 1
(d) Operations Division Ms Betty CHAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)
(e) Support to Judges Section Ms Frieda LEUNG Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)1 [up to 21.2.2013]
Ms Gloria POON Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)1 [w.e.f. 22.2.2013]
Mr Roger LAW Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)2 [up to 14.5.2013]
Mr Kenneth LIU Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)2 [w.e.f. 15.5.2013]
Ms Peggy CHAN Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)3 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
(f) Clerk of Court's Office Mrs Pamela PANG Clerk of Court
(g) Court of Final Appeal Registry Mr Jackson CHAN Senior Judicial Clerk I (Court of Final Appeal)
(h) High Court Registry Mr Kenneth LIU Chief Judicial Clerk (High Court Registry) [up to 14.5.2013]
Ms Catherine LI Chief Judicial Clerk (High Court Registry) [w.e.f. 15.5.2013]
(i) District Court Mr Barry LEE Acting Chief Judicial Clerk (Registry, District Court) [up to 12.11.2013]
Mr Barry LEE Chief Judicial Clerk (Registry, District Court) [w.e.f. 13.11.2013]
Mrs Flora CHUNG Chief Judicial Clerk (Courts, District Court)
(j) Family Court Registry Ms Jackie LUI Acting Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court)
(k) Lands Tribunal Registry Ms Evelyn CHEUNG Chief Judicial Clerk (Lands Tribunal)
(l) Magistrates' Courts General Office Mr James WONG Senior Judiciary Executive (Magistracies) [up to 21.7.2013]
Ms Peggy CHAN Senior Judiciary Executive (Magistracies) [from 22.7.2013 to 15.12.2013]
Ms Elsa CHAN Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Magistracies) [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
(m) Probate Registry Mr M K LAM Chief Probate Officer
(n) Labour Tribunal Registry Mr W M WONG Acting Registrar (Labour Tribunal)
(o) Small Claims Tribunal Registry Ms Peggy CHAN Chief Judicial Clerk ( Small Claims Tribunal ) [up to 23.6.2013]
Ms Rosana LAW Acting Chief Judicial Clerk ( Small Claims Tribunal ) [w.e.f. 24.6.2013]
(p) Court Language Section Ms Celina WONG Chief Judiciary Executive (Court Language) [up to 15.12.2013]
Ms Celina WONG Chief Judiciary Executive (Court Language)1 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
Ms Patience IP Acting Chief Court Interpreter [up to 15.12.2013]
Ms Patience IP Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Court Language)2 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
(q) Bailiff Section Mr Sunny KWAN Chief Bailiff (Administration and Admiralty)
Mr T M CHOI Chief Bailiff (Operations)
(r) Mediation Information Office Ms April LAM Senior Mediation Affairs Officer
(s) Family Mediation Coordinator's Office Mrs P F MAK Mediation Coordinator (Family) [up to 2.6.2013]
Mrs Heidy KWONG Mediation Coordinator (Family) [w.e.f. 3.6.2013]
(t) Building Management Mediation Coordinator's Office Ms S F CHAN Mediation Coordinator (Building Management)
(u) Project Management Office Ms Gloria POON Senior Judiciary Executive (Project Management Office)1 [up to 21.2.2013]
Mr James WONG Senior Judiciary Executive (Project Management Office)1 [from 22.7.2013 to 15.12.2013]
Ms Catherine LI Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Project Management Office)2 [up to 10.1.2013]
Ms Catherine LI Senior Judiciary Executive (Project Management Office)2 [from 11.1.2013 to 14.5.2013]
Ms Hedy WU Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Project Management Office)2 [from 15.5.2013 to 15.12.2013]
Ms Grace LAW Senior Judiciary Executive (Project Management Office)3 [from 26.8.2013 to 15.12.2013]
(v) Information Technology Office (Technical) Mr Kenneth YEUNG Senior Systems Manager (1) [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
Mr Jeffrey FUNG Senior Systems Manager (4) [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
(w) Information Technology Office (Operational) Mr James WONG Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)1 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
Ms Hedy WU Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)2 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
Ms Grace LAW Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)3 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
Mr Stanford KONG Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)4 [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]

Development Division

Mr Esmond LEE, Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Development)
 
(a) Development Office Ms Wendy CHEUNG Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)
(b) Press & Public Relations Office Ms Florence WONG Principal Information Officer

Quality Division

Mr Stanley TO, Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality) [up to 10.4.2013]
Mr Anthony CHAN, Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality) [from 11.4.2013 to 15.12.2013]
Mr Anthony CHAN, Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) [w.e.f. 16.12.2013]
 
(a) Complaints Office Mr Jerry IU Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Complaints) [up to 10.1.2013]
Mr Jerry IU Senior Judiciary Executive (Complaints) [from 11.1.2013 to 21.10.2013]
Ms Crystal LEE Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Complaints) [w.e.f. 22.10.2013]
(b) Court Reporters Office Ms Maggie CHENG Senior Court Reporter (Development)
(c) Information Technology Management Section Mr Jeffrey FUNG Chief Judiciary Executive (Information Technology) [up to 15.12.2013]
(d) Legal Reference and Library Section Ms Miranda FUNG Senior Judiciary Executive (Legal Reference and Library)
(e) Management Information Section Ms Memory WONG Senior Judiciary Executive (Management Information) [up to 12.6.2013]
Ms Eva LEE Judiciary Executive (Management Information)1Note 2
Ms Anny TAM Judiciary Executive (Management Information)2Note 2
Ms Eva LEE Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Management Information) [w.e.f. 2.10.2013]
(f) Management Review Section Ms Cora CHENG Chief Judiciary Executive (Management Review) [up to 27.10.2013]
Mr William CHUNG Chief Judiciary Executive (Management Review) [w.e.f. 28.10.2013]

Corporate Services Division

Mrs Angela LO, Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Corporate Services)
 
(a) Accommodation Section Mrs Lowell CHO Chief Judiciary Executive (Accommodation) [up to 8.9.2013]
Mr Roger NG Chief Judiciary Executive (Accommodation) [w.e.f. 9.9.2013]
(b) Finance Section Ms Cindy LEE Chief Judiciary Executive (Finance)
(c) Judges and Judicial Officers Section Ms Charling LI Chief Judiciary Executive (Judges and Judicial Officers) [up to 18.8.2013]
Ms Doreen KWAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Judges and Judicial Officers) [w.e.f. 19.8.2013]
(d) Support Staff Section Ms Y C MAK Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Support Staff) [up to 28.3.2013]
Ms Mabel CHENG Senior Judiciary Executive (Human Resources)Note 3
Ms Susanne KWAN Senior Judiciary Executive (Support Staff)1Note 3
Ms Jovy WONG Senior Judiciary Executive (Administration)Note 3
Ms Ivy TANG Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Support Staff) [w.e.f. 11.11.2013]
(e) West Kowloon Law Courts Building Integrated Team Mr Sonny CHING Senior Architect
Note 1: Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) reports to the Judiciary Administrator direct in respect of areas of his portfolio other than those related to Information Technology Office (Operational).
Note 2: Temporarily sharing the duties of Senior Judiciary Executive (Management Information) from 17.6.2013 to 1.10.2013.
Note 3: Temporarily sharing the duties of Chief Judiciary Executive (Support Staff) from 2.4.2013 to 10.11.2013.

Judicial Education

Judicial Educational Activities Organised by the Judiciary

Date Activity
2.11.2012 - 18.1.2013 Course on Chinese Judgment Writing run by the University of Hong Kong
23 - 25.1.2013 Induction Course for District Judges and Magistrates
6.9.2013 Talk entitled "The International Hague Network of Judges and Cross-Border Judicial Communication" by Mr Hans VAN LOON, Former Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law
28.9.2013 Visit to Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre
25.10.2013 Talk entitled "Sitting as Non-Permanent Judge in the Court of Final Appeal for the Past 16 years" by the Hon Sir Anthony MASON, GBM, Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal
9.12.2013 Talk entitled "Judges must not only be independent but must be seen to be independent - the birth of the UK Supreme Court" by The Rt Hon the Lord PHILLIPS of Worth Matravers, Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal
16 - 17.12.2013 Induction Course for Coroners

Activities Organised by Other Institutions and Attended by Judges and Judicial Officers

Date Activity
15.1.2013 Talk by James BADENOCH, QC, England & Wales, entitled "The Bolam Principle in Medical Negligence – A Sacred Cow? Let’s kill it off.", organised by the Hong Kong Bar Association
22.2.2013 Talk by Lord David PANNICK, QC, England & Wales, entitled "Scandalising the Judiciary: Why this Criminal Offence should be Abolished", organised by the Hong Kong Bar Association
4 - 5.3.2013 Training for Commonwealth Judges – Crown Court Trial Seminar in Coventry, the United Kingdom, organised by the Judicial College of England and Wales
8.3.2013 Public Lecture entitled "Whither Fiduciary Duties?", organised by the University of Hong Kong
8.4.2013 Common Law Lecture by Chief Justice Geoffrey MA – "The Interpretation of Hong Kong’s Constitution: A Personal View", organised by the University of Hong Kong
18.4.2013 Public Lecture by Mr JAT Sew-tong, SC, JP, entitled "Public Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong: A Practitioner's Note", organised by the University of Hong Kong
18 - 22.5.2013 The INSOL Tenth Multinational Judicial Colloquium on Insolvency and the Ninth Quadrennial Congress of INSOL International in the Hague, the Netherlands, organised by the INSOL International, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the World Bank
24 - 25.5.2013 PRC Maritime Law Seminar in Shenzhen, Mainland, organised by the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council, co-organised by the University of Hong Kong, Dalian Maritime University and the Hong Kong Maritime Law Association
26.6.2013 Talk by the Hon Mr Justice Murray GLEESON, Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, entitled "Two Courts of Last Resort: High Court of Australia and The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal", organised by the Hong Kong Chapter of the Law Council of Australia
3 - 5.7.2013 The 2nd International Family Law and Practice Conference 2013 on "Parentage, Equality and Gender" in London, the United Kingdom, organised by The Centre for Family Law and Practice
8 - 12.7.2013 Judicial Governance Programme in Singapore, organised by the Subordinate Courts of Singapore and the Singapore Civil Service College
29.7 - 1.8.2013 Investigation and Undercover Workshop, organised by the Homeland Security Investigations stationed at the US Consulate
22 - 23.8.2013 International Commercial Law and Arbitration Conference in Sydney, Australia, organised by the Federal Court of Australia
31.8.2013 Seminar entitled "Victims of Sex Crimes", organised by the Department of Justice in Hong Kong
21 - 24.10.2013 Asia Pacific Coroners Society Conference in Darwin, Australia, organised by the Asia Pacific Coroners Society
22 - 24.10.2013 Competition Law Workshop for Asia-Pacific Judges in Gyeongju, Korea, organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Korea Policy Centre
2.11.2013 Conference entitled "The Debates: Criminal Justice Reform", jointly organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong
4.11.2013 Seminar entitled "Access to Justice and the Challenge of Self-representation", organised by the University of Hong Kong
23.11.2013 "Seminar on the Protection of Sexual Violence Victims in Judicial System", jointly organised by Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers and RainLily
29.11.2013 Talk by Edward FITZGERALD, CBE, QC, entitled "Recent Developments in Extradition", organised by the Hong Kong Bar Association


Number of Visits and Visitors to the Judiciary

  2012 2013
Local    
No. of visits 221 224
No. of visitors 6 847 6 984
The Mainland    
No. of visits 57 42
No. of visitors 1 538 1 234
Overseas    
No. of visits 25 18
No. of visitors 301 269
Total    
No. of visits 303 284
No. of visitors 8 686 8 487

  Number of Visitors
Category of Visitors 2012 2013
Judges and legal profession 471 430
Government officials 1 008 695
Students and others 7 207 7 362
Total 8 686 8 487


Expenditure and Revenue of the Judiciary in 2012-2013

Recurrent Expenditure

    2012-2013 ($' 000)
- Personal Emoluments 841,689
- Departmental Expenses 294,368
- Other Charges 6,083
  Total 1,142,140

Revenue*

    2012-2013 ($' 000)
- Fees & Charges 170,239
- Fines 228,540
- Forfeitures & Others 78,449
  Total 477,228
* Revenue collected by the Judiciary forms part of the Government's General Revenue


Complaints against Judges and Judicial Officers

  Nature of Complaints 2013
(1) Complaints against judicial decisions 74
(2) Complaints against judicial conduct 36
(3) Complaints against both the judicial decisions
and the judicial conduct		 31
  Total 141
Note
(a) Item (2) includes complaints concerning the handling of complaints by court leaders.
(b) The total number of cases disposed of by Judges and Judicial Officers in 2013 is 491,544.


Complaints against the Judiciary Administration

  Nature of Complaints 2013*
- Complaints about procedures 24
- Complaints about facilities 12
- Complaints about the judicial support services 49
- Complaints against staff of the Judiciary Administration 82
  Total 167
* Oral complaints included


Last Update Date : 26-02-2014