In 2018, we continued to try to make improvements on our judicial system. Hong Kong has an independent Judiciary which is on the whole much respected, but where improvements can be made to make the administration of justice more effective, we will try to achieve this as much as possible.

The Judiciary continued to face heavy workloads. Since mid-2018, the Judiciary has launched a new round of open recruitment exercises for Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and District Judges with a view to filling judicial vacancies. However, standards must remain high.

The year saw the passage and commencement of the legislative amendments for increasing the civil jurisdictional limits of the District Court and the Small Claims Tribunal. These amendments enable better distribution of cases among the courts and the tribunal concerned, and enhance access to justice.

The Integrated Mediation Office also came into operation during the year. This Office combines the resources of the previous mediation offices and provides a one-stop point for litigants to access information on mediation, thereby facilitating parties to resolve their disputes.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank members of the community, the Government and the Legislative Council for their invaluable support for the work of the Judiciary. I also thank our judges and staff for their dedication to the administration of justice.

This Report provides an overview of the major events of the Judiciary in 2018. We hope that you will find it useful and gain a better understanding of the work of the Judiciary.