This Report provides an overview of the major events of the Judiciary in 2019.

In view of the heavy workload, the Judiciary continued to conduct open recruitment exercises for Judges and Judicial Officers (“JJOs”) at the High Court, District Court and Magistrates’ Courts with a view to tackling the shortfall in judicial manpower.

The year saw the passage of the legislative amendments for extending the retirement age of JJOs. An extension of the statutory retirement age for JJOs will encourage recruitment of the best legal talents to the Judiciary, as well as help retain experienced serving JJOs. Furthermore, progress has been made on the proposed legislative amendments to streamline procedures of the High Court and facilitate the more efficient handling of cases, including those relating to non-refoulement claims. We hope that the relevant legislative process will be able to be completed and the streamlined procedures implemented by 2020.

The Intellectual Property List of the Court of First Instance of the High Court was established on 6 May 2019. With the setting up of the List, specialist Judges are assigned to handle and better manage intellectual property cases. This will in the long run reduce costs and the time needed for the resolution of this type of dispute.

The upsurge in the number of court cases arising from recent events has posed new challenges to the Judiciary. We will try to deal with cases expeditiously and efficiently as far as practicable while at the same time ensuring that they are handled fairly and strictly in accordance with the law.

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 would also like to express my gratitude to my fellow judges and judicial officers, as well as staff in the Judiciary for their dedication and professionalism in the face of increasing challenges.

This Report provides statistics on the caseload and waiting times at various levels of court, and other information about the operation of the Judiciary. 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 2019

Following tradition, the year began with the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal year on 14 January. The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA spoke about the important facets of Hong Kong’s legal system with a view to providing the necessary context to enable the public to properly appraise and comment on the work of the courts, in particular decisions on matters which greatly concern the community. As contained in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s legal system is characterized by an independent judiciary where judges are independent from any outside interference in the discharge of their constitutional duties. The essence of fairness and justice also lies in everyone’s entitlement to equal treatment under the law. In addition, the courts look only to the legal issues involved in determining the outcome of the case even the case may carry political, social or economic ramifications. There also exists a proper appellate system under which anyone who feels aggrieved by a judge’s decision may appeal to a higher court. Another important characteristic is the transparency of the work of the courts and this contributes to the community’s confidence in the legal system. These are essential facets of the administration of justice in Hong Kong.

The Chief Justice also provided an update on the Judiciary’s proposals to extend the retirement age for Judges and Judicial Officers ("JJOs") and to introduce legislative amendments to facilitate a more efficient handling of cases involving non-refoulement claims. He also stressed the total commitment of the Judiciary in Hong Kong to rule of law and to serving the community.

Appointment of Judges and Judicial Officers

Various judicial appointments were made in the year 2019. Among these were the appointment of the Right Hon Lord Jonathan SUMPTION as a Non-Permanent Judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal; the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON as the Chief Judge of the High Court; the appointment of the Hon Madam Justice Susan KWAN as a Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; the appointment of the Hon Mr Justice Thomas AU as a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; and the appointments of the Hon Mr Justice Tony POON, the Hon Madam Justice Marlene NG, the Hon Mr Justice Alex LEE, the Hon Mr Justice Russell COLEMAN, the Hon Mr Justice Keith YEUNG and the Hon Madam Justice Linda CHAN as Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.

Caseload

In 2019, the Judiciary continued to face heavy work pressure at all levels of court. While many performance targets were achieved, a few targets at various levels of courts were not met. To address this challenge, the Judiciary continued to recruit JJOs at the High Court, District Court and Magistrates’ Courts with a view to tackling the shortfall in judicial manpower which is one of the main factors affecting the court waiting times. Pending the substantive filling of judicial vacancies through open recruitment, the Judiciary continued to make use of temporary judicial resources to help maintain judicial manpower required at different levels of court.

During the year, the legislative amendments for extending the statutory retirement age for JJOs were passed. It is hoped that the extended statutory retirement age for JJOs would help relieve the judicial manpower shortage problem by attracting quality candidates who are in private practice to join the Bench and retaining experienced JJOs. Furthermore, progress has been made on the proposed legislative amendments to streamline procedures of the High Court and facilitate the more efficient handling of cases, including those relating to non-refoulement claims. We hope that the relevant legislative process will be able to be completed and the streamlined procedures implemented by 2020. The Judiciary will continue to closely monitor the waiting times for court cases.

Establishment of the Intellectual Property List of Court of First Instance of High Court

Boards and Committees

The Chief Justice appointed JJOs and invited representatives from the legal profession and relevant government departments to sit on a number of boards and committees to provide their input 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, Admiralty Court Users’ Committee, Civil Court Users’ Committee, Criminal Court Users’ Committee, Family Proceedings Court Users’ Committee, Competition Tribunal Users’ Committee, Sub-Committee on Companies and Insolvency Matters of the Civil Court Users’ Committee and the Governing Body of the Hong Kong Judicial Institute.

Exchanges with other Jurisdictions

In 2019, our JJOs continued exchanges with their counterparts in other jurisdictions. In February, the Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA attended the Sixth Judicial Seminar on Commercial Litigation held in Sydney, Australia. In May, he attended the Asia-Pacific Judicial Colloquium 2019 held in Singapore. In mid-September, he led a seven-member delegation to attend the Fifth Seminar of Senior Judges of Cross-Strait and Hong Kong and Macao in Zhanjiang. In end-September, he spoke at the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum Lunch in the International Bar Association Annual Conference 2019 in Seoul, Korea and also gave a lecture at the Seoul National University. In September, the Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, attended the Global Constitutionalism Seminar 2019 held at the Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, the United States. In March, the Hon Madam Justice Bebe CHU, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 2019 Singapore Family Mediation Symposium held in Singapore. In August, the Hon Mr Justice Tony POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, led a five-member delegation to visit various courts in Perth and Sydney, Australia to enhance understanding on how court case management can be improved through application of information technology.

Visits and Visitors to the Judiciary

In 2019, the Judiciary arranged 337 visits for about 10 000 visitors. Among all, most visitors are local students. We greatly value all opportunities to meet with visitors and introduce to them the work of the Judiciary.

You are cordially invited to visit our Photo Gallery for various memorable moments of the Judiciary in 2019.

Highlights of Events in 2019

January
8	An eight-member delegation from the Ministry of Justice led by Mr FU Zhenghua, Minister of Justice, 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 officiated at the ceremonial opening of the 2019 Legal Year
14	The Hon Mr Justice H C AU, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, was appointed Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
14	His Honour Judge Tony POON, Chief District Judge, Her Honour Judge Marlene NG and His Honour Judge Alex LEE, District Judges, were appointed Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
14	His Honour Judge C K CHAN, District Judge, was appointed Principal Family Court Judge
16	An eight-member delegation led by Mr CHEN Haiguang, Director of the Judges Management Division of the Supreme People’s Court, visited the Judiciary
24	The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the Conference on Cross-Border Bankruptcy (Liquidation) between the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR in Beijing
24	A five-member delegation of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee visited the Judiciary
29	Mr LIU Daqun, Judge of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, the United Nations, visited the Judiciary

February
1	Dr Rita RAMALHO, Senior Manager, Global Indicators Group, the World Bank Group, the United States, visited the Judiciary
14-16	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA, the Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, and the Hon Mr Justice Peter NG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the Sixth Judicial Seminar on Commercial Litigation held in Sydney, Australia
22	An 11-member delegation from the Supreme People’s Court and the Higher People’s Court of Guangdong Province visited the Judiciary
24	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA acted as a judge for the JESSUP International Law Moot Court Competition 2019 (the Hong Kong Rounds)

March
1	Mr POW Wing-nin, Jason, SC; and Mr Anthony Kenneth HOUGHTON, SC were re-appointed Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court for a period of three years
1	A 38-member delegation from the Office of the Judiciary of Thailand visited the Judiciary
4-7	The Hon Mr Justice Tony POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, visited the Judicial College, England and Wales and attended the Business of Judging Seminar in the United Kingdom
14	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered the lecture on “Limits and Limitations: How effective are the Courts in the Protection of Human Rights?” at the University of Zurich, Switzerland
20	A 20-member delegation from the Harvard Asia Law Society visited the Judiciary
27	A six-member delegation led by Mr XIONG Xuanguo, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, visited the Judiciary
28	A group of 21 Mainland judges attending the 5th and 6th Doctor of Juridical Science Programme for Chinese Senior Judges of the City University of Hong Kong visited the Judiciary
29	The Hon Madam Justice Bebe CHU, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 2019 Singapore Family Mediation Symposium held in Singapore
31.3-2.4	The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the Thirteenth Multinational Judicial Colloquium on Insolvency and the Offshore Meeting of the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (“INSOL”) International in Singapore

April
1	The Hon Madam Justice Susan KWAN, 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
1	The Hon Madam Justice K Y WONG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, was appointed President, Lands Tribunal
2	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA and the Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, were conferred to the degrees of Doctor of Laws honoris causa at the 201st Congregation of the University of Hong Kong. The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered the acceptance speech on behalf of the honorary graduates at the congregation
2	Mr Russell Adam COLEMAN, SC was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
2	A six-member delegation led by Mr YANG Wanming, Vice- President of the Supreme People’s Court, visited the Judiciary
8-12	The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, and the Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 21st Commonwealth Law Conference held in Livingstone, Zambia
17	A five-member delegation led by Mr DENG Zhonghua, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, visited the Judiciary
17	The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, attended the International Dispute Resolution Conference 2019 jointly organised by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Hong Kong Mediation Centre and International Dispute Resolution & Risk Management Institute
23-26	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered the Inaugural Caius Mok Law Lecture entitled “The Endless Search for the Right Answer: European Legal Principles as applied in Hong Kong” at the University of Cambridge. He also gave a talk at the lunch organised by the Hong Kong Association in London, the United Kingdom

May
21	Members from the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services visited the Judiciary
22	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered a speech entitled “Understanding the Legal Fundamentals in Dealing with Corruption” at the 7th ICAC Symposium
27	A group of 25 Mainland judges attending the 14th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges of the City University of Hong Kong visited the Judiciary
27-30	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA and the Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, attended the Asia-Pacific Judicial Colloquium 2019 held in Singapore
30-31	The Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 9th Annual Competition Law Seminar for Asia-Pacific Judges in Bangkok, Thailand

June
16-18	The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the International Insolvency Institute’s 19th Annual Conference in Barcelona, Spain
17	A four-member delegation led by Mr Frédéric VAN LEEUW, Belgian Federal Prosecutor, visited the Judiciary
19	A six-member delegation led by Mr YE Liudong, President of Guangzhou Maritime Court, visited the Judiciary
22	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA presided over the 2019 Senior Counsel Admission Ceremony
24-28	The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, visited the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, the United Kingdom

July
16	A seven-member delegation led by Mr HAN Deyang, President of the Higher People’s Court of Guizhou Province, visited the Judiciary
22	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered closing remarks at the inaugural seminar – “International Dispute Resolution: Reflections and Redirections” jointly organised by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and the Chinese University of Hong Kong
29	The terms of office of the Hon Mr Justice James SPIGELMAN and the Hon Mr Justice William GUMMOW, Non-Permanent Judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal, were extended for a period of three years
29	Mr Keith YEUNG Kar-hung, SC was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court

August
1	The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, was re-appointed President, Competition Tribunal and the Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, was re-appointed Deputy President, Competition Tribunal
12-16	The Hon Mr Justice Tony POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; His Honour Judge Justin KO, Acting Chief District Judge; Master HUI Ka-ho, Temporary Deputy Registrar of the High Court; Mr Victor SO Wai-tak, Acting Chief Magistrate and Master Simon LUI, Temporary Registrar of the District Court, visited various courts in Perth and Sydney, Australia to enhance understanding on how court case management can be improved through application of information technology
18-20	The Hon Mr Justice LOK, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and His Honour Judge Kent YEE, District Judge, attended an international forum on intellectual property matters in Guangzhou
21	Mr LIN Kam-hung, Ernest Michael; Mrs TSE CHING Adriana Noelle and Mr PANG Ka-kwong were appointed District Judges
28	A twelve-member delegation led by Mr. Mohd Nadzri bin ABDUL RAHMAN, the Honourable Chief Justice of the Syariah Court of Malacca, Malaysia, visited the Judiciary

September
1	The term of office of the Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK, Non-Permanent Hong Kong Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, was extended for a period of three years
9-11	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA; the Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal; the Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Acting Chief Judge of the High Court; the Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; the Hon Mr Justice Tony POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; His Honour Judge Justin KO, Acting Chief District Judge; and Mr Victor SO Wai-tak, Acting Chief Magistrate, attended the “Fifth Seminar of Senior Judges of Cross-Strait and Hong Kong and Macao” in Zhanjiang
11-13	The Hon Mr Justice R A V RIBEIRO, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, attended the Global Constitutionalism Seminar 2019 held at the Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, the United States
22-26	The Hon Mr Justice Tony POON, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 9th International Conference on the Training of the Judiciary of the International Organisation for Judicial Training in Cape Town, South Africa
23-26	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered a speech entitled “Hong Kong and the Rule of Law: Is it Tangible?” at the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum Lunch in the International Bar Association Annual Conference 2019 in Seoul, Korea. The Hon Chief Justice MA also gave a lecture at the Seoul National University. The Hon Mr Justice Joseph FOK, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, delivered a speech entitled “Judges from other common law jurisdictions in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal” at the conference. The Hon Mr Justice Kevin Paul ZERVOS, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court also spoke at the conference
30.9-2.10	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA; the Hon Mr Justice Joseph FOK, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal; the Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Acting Chief Judge of the High Court; the Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; and the Hon Mr Justice Barnabas FUNG, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court attended the celebrations of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing

October
7-11	The Hon Madam Justice Mimmie CHAN and the Hon Mr Justice David LOK, Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, visited the Court of Appeal, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the Patents Court, and the Commercial Court in London, the United Kingdom
8	Mr CHAN Kam-chuen and Ms Phoebe MAN Ho-yee were appointed District Judges
16	The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 3rd International Conference on Market-Orientated Bankruptcy in Shenzhen
18	The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Acting Chief Judge of the High Court, attended the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission ("CIETAC")’s Inaugural Greater Bay Area Summit
18	A group of 21 Mainland judges attending the 15th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges of the City University of Hong Kong visited the Judiciary
21	The term of office of the Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN, Non-Permanent Hong Kong Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, was extended for a period of three years
22	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered closing remarks at the ADR in Asia Conference: Arbitrating for Settlement
30	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA delivered a speech entitled “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders” at the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools 55th Anniversary Education Colloquium 2019

November
4	The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, attended the 3rd United Nations Commission on International Trade Law ("UNCITRAL") Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2019
5	The Hon Mr Justice Barnabas FUNG and the Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the 3rd United Nations Commission on International Trade Law ("UNCITRAL") Asia Pacific Judicial Roundtable
6&8	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA gave a speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 32nd LAWASIA Conference. The Hon Mr Justice Aarif T BARMA, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; and the Hon Mr Justice Russell A COLEMAN, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court also attended the Conference
7	The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, attended the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals ("INSOL") International Tokyo One Day Seminar in Tokyo, Japan
27	Mr Jonathan HATWELL, Head of Division, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Mongolia, European External Action Service, European Commission, European Union, visited the Judiciary

December
8	The Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, attended a Forum on Case Law and Guiding Cases System in Beijing co-organised by the National Judges College and the City University of Hong Kong
13	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA attended the Ceremony on the Nanjing Massacre National Memorial Day
18	The Rt Hon Lord Jonathan SUMPTION was appointed Non-Permanent Judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal
18	The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy POON, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, was appointed Chief Judge of the High Court
18	Ms Linda CHAN, SC was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
19	The Hon Chief Justice Geoffrey MA attended the 2019 Law Society Pro Bono and Community Service Award Presentation Ceremony
20	A four-member delegation from the Shanghai High People’s Court, Shanghai Financial Court, Pudong New Area People’s Court of Shanghai and Huangpu District People’s Court of Shanghai, 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 R A V RIBEIRO

The Hon Mr Justice Joseph P FOK

The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG

- Non-Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal

The Hon Mr Justice S K S BOKHARY, GBM

The Hon Mr Justice Patrick CHAN, GBM

The Hon Mr Justice Robert TANG, GBM, SBS

The Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK, GBS

The Rt Hon the Lord HOFFMANN, GBS

The Rt Hon the Lord MILLETT, GBS

The Hon Mr Justice Murray GLEESON

The Rt Hon the Lord NEUBERGER of Abbotsbury, GBS

The Rt Hon the Lord WALKER of Gestingthorpe, GBS

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

The Hon Mr Justice William GUMMOW

The Hon Mr Justice Robert FRENCH

The Rt Hon Lord REED

The Rt Hon the Baroness HALE of Richmond

The Rt Hon Madam Justice Beverley McLACHLIN

The Rt Hon Lord SUMPTION (w.e.f. 18.12.2019)

High Court

- Chief Judge of the High Court

The Hon Mr Justice S C POON (w.e.f. 18.12.2019)

- Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court

The Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG, V-P

The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P

The Hon Mr Justice Andrew C MACRAE, V-P

The Hon Madam Justice Susan KWAN, V-P (w.e.f. 1.4.2019)

The Hon Mr Justice Peter CHEUNG, JA

The Hon Madam Justice Maria C YUEN, JA

The Hon Madam Justice Susan KWAN, JA (up to 31.3.2019)

The Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU, JA

The Hon Mr Justice Aarif T BARMA, JA

The Hon Mr Justice Ian C McWALTERS, JA

The Hon Mr Justice S C POON, JA (up to 17.12.2019)

The Hon Mr Justice Derek PANG, JA

The Hon Mr Justice Kevin P ZERVOS, JA

The Hon Mr Justice H C AU, JA (w.e.f. 14.1.2019)

- Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court

The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHUNG, SBS #

The Hon Mr Justice Barnabas FUNG, GBS

The Hon Mrs Justice Judianna W L BARNES

The Hon Madam Justice Maggie POON

The Hon Mr Justice H C AU (up to 13.1.2019)

The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS

The Hon Mr Justice Mohan T BHARWANEY

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

The Hon Mr Justice Peter NG

The Hon Madam Justice Anthea PANG

The Hon Mr Justice Anderson CHOW

The Hon Madam Justice B. CHU

The Hon Mr Justice David LOK

The Hon Mr Justice Joseph YAU

The Hon Mr Justice Albert WONG

The Hon Mrs Justice Audrey P CAMPBELL-MOFFAT

The Hon Madam Justice Susana M D'ALMADA REMEDIOS

The Hon Mr Justice Wilson CHAN

The Hon Madam Justice K Y WONG

The Hon Mr Justice S T POON (w.e.f. 14.1.2019)

The Hon Madam Justice Marlene NG (w.e.f. 14.1.2019)

The Hon Mr Justice W T LEE (w.e.f. 14.1.2019)

The Hon Mr Justice Russell A COLEMAN (w.e.f. 2.4.2019)

The Hon Mr Justice Keith YEUNG (w.e.f. 29.7.2019)

The Hon Madam Justice C F CHAN (w.e.f. 18.12.2019)

- Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court

Mr POW Wing-nin, Jason, SC

Mr COLEMAN Russell Adam, SC (up to 28.2.2019)

Mr HOUGHTON Anthony Kenneth, SC

Ms TAM Wan-chi, Winnie, SC

Mr WONG Kai-ming, Stewart, SC

Ms CHAN Ching-fan, Linda, SC (up to 17.12.2019)

Mr FUNG Ting-sek, Eugene, SC

Mr MANZONI Charles Peter, SC

Ms CHENG Wai-sum, Yvonne, SC

- Registrar, High Court

Mr KWANG Cheok-weung, Simon

- Senior Deputy Registrar, High Court

Mr HO Chi-yin, Andy

#	Retired in 2019

District Court

- Chief District Judge

His Honour Judge S T POON (up to 13.1.2019)

- Principal Family Court Judge

His Honour Judge C K CHAN (w.e.f. 14.1.2019)

- District Judges

Her Honour Judge Marlene NG (up to 13.1.2019)

His Honour Judge Michael WONG

His Honour Judge Stanley CHAN

His Honour Judge C M LEUNG

Her Honour Judge Sharon D MELLOY

His Honour Judge Eddie YIP

Her Honour Judge Katina LEVY

His Honour Judge C K CHAN (up to 13.1.2019)

His Honour Judge Frankie YIU

His Honour Judge K W WONG

His Honour Judge Justin KO

His Honour Judge Douglas YAU

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 (up to 13.1.2019)

His Honour Judge Harold LEONG

His Honour Judge Kent YEE

His Honour Judge Roy YU

His Honour Judge C P PANG

His Honour Judge Timothy H CASEWELL

His Honour Judge Simon LO

His Honour Judge S L TAM

Her Honour Judge Angela KOT

His Honour Judge Reuden LAI

His Honour Judge George OWN

Her Honour Judge Y F CHAN

His Honour Judge L W WONG

His Honour Judge M K LIU

His Honour Judge Edmond LEE

Her Honour Judge Winnie TSUI

His Honour Judge Clement LEE

His Honour Judge Ernest M LIN (w.e.f. 21.8.2019)

Her Honour Judge Adriana N TSE CHING (w.e.f. 21.8.2019)

His Honour Judge K K PANG (w.e.f. 21.8.2019)

His Honour Judge K C CHAN (w.e.f. 8.10.2019)

Her Honour Judge Phoebe MAN (w.e.f. 8.10.2019)

Lands Tribunal

- Members, Lands Tribunal

Mr PANG Ho-chuen, Lawrence

Mr NG Siu-lam, Alex

Magistrates' Courts and other Tribunals

- Principal Magistrates

Mr LIN Kam-hung, Ernest Michael (up to 20.8.2019)

Mr CHOW Siu-wo, Anthony #

Mr TAM Lee-cheung #

Ms CHAINRAI Bina

Mr LAW Tak-chuen, Peter

Ms WOO Huey-fang, Bernadette #

Mr LUI Kin-man, Simon

Mr HO Chin-pang, Dick

Mr SO Wai-tak

- Magistrates

Mrs TSE CHING Adriana Noelle (up to 20.8.2019)

Miss YIM Shun-yee, Ada

Mr MAK Kwok-cheung

Mr TO Ho-shing

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 (up to 20.8.2019)

Mr YIP Sue-pui, Lawrence

Mr WAN Siu-ming, Jason

Miss CHUI Yee-mei, Ivy

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

Miss NG Chung-yee, Debbie

Ms HEUNG Shuk-han, Veronica

Ms TO Kit-ling, Doris

Ms SHUI Kelly

Ms CHENG Kam-lin, Catherine

Mr CHAN Ping-chau, Kenneth

Mr LEE Siu-ho

Mr CHOW Chi-wei, Raymund

Ms CHU Yuen-yee

Mr CHAN David

Ms WONG Nga-yan, Peony

Mr WONG Sze-cheung, Colin

Ms SO Ka-yin, Rita

Miss LEE Kar-lok, Jacqueline

Mr HO Chun-yiu

Ms SOONG Wing-sum

Ms LEUNG Ka-kie

Ms TSUI May-har, Stephanie

Ms LEUNG Siu-ling

Mr IP Kai-leung, Jacky

Mr PANG Leung-ting

Ms CHUNG Ming-sun, May

Miss CHAN Lo-yee, Louise

Mr WONG Ching-yu, Edward

Mr LAM Tsz-kan

Mr LEUNG Man-liang, Matthew

- Special Magistrates

Mr TAM Ka-huen #

Miss LAU Suk-han

Mr MOK Tze-chung, Andrew

Miss LEUNG Nga-yan, Frances

Mr YU Chun-pong

Mr LAM Hei-wei, Arthur

#	Retired in 2019

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 *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Applications for leave to appeal
Criminal	65	67	67	57 (36)	80 (35)	41 (22)
Civil	47	127	426	68 (36)	57 (40)	133 (110)
Total	112	194	493	125	137	174
Substantive appeals
Criminal	11	29	8	13	25	15
Civil	15	11	8	18	11	7
Total	26	40	16	31	36	22
Miscellaneous proceedings	0	0	0	0	0	0

*	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	2017	2018	2019
Applications for leave to appeal
From notice of hearing to hearing
Criminal	45	44	43	44
Civil	35	33	35	34
Substantive appeals
From notice of hearing to hearing
Criminal	100	90	98	98
Civil	120	118	111	113

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

High Court

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE HIGH COURT

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	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
*Court of Appeal*
Appellate
Criminal
Appeals from the Court of First Instance	179	177	165	160	169	146
Appeals from the District Court	237	205	206	206	211	230
Sub-total	416	382	371	366	380	376
Civil
Appeals from the Court of First Instance	264	580	560	193	478	526
Appeals from the District Court	16	14	12	11	17	13
Miscellaneous Appeals	18	17	25	20	12	21
Sub-total	298	611	597	224	507	560
Review of Sentences
Criminal
Reviews from the Court of First Instance	0	0	0	2	0	0
Reviews from the District Court	2	5	4	4	2	4
Reviews from the Magistrates' Courts	2	1	1	3	0	1
Sub-total	4	6	5	9	2	5
Total	718	999	973	599	889	941
Miscellaneous Proceedings⁺	83	204	321	39	178	203

*	Case disposal refers to appeals/reviews which have been allowed, dismissed, withdrawn, discontinued or abandoned with or without court order
⁺	A new case type created to capture criminal and civil miscellaneous matters before the Court of Appeal with effect from 1 July 2017. Its caseload was formerly subsumed under High Court Miscellaneous Proceedings and categorized under civil jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance

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	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Court of First Instance Appellate
Criminal
Appeals from Magistrates' Courts	659	620	603	719	555	585
Civil
Appeals from Labour Tribunal	45	30	23	30	27	21
Appeals from Small Claims Tribunal	66	63	45	43	56	43
Appeals from Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board	5	3	4	5	1	5
Miscellaneous Appeals	3	3	4	5	5	2
Sub-total	119	99	76	83	89	71
Total	778	719	679	802	644	656
First Instance
Criminal Jurisdiction
Criminal Cases	449	421	424	519	433	446
Confidential Miscellaneous Proceedings	382	402	340	382	402	340
Application for Discharge	0	0	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous Proceedings (Criminal)^	374	789	684	295	686	655
Sub-total	1 205	1 612	1 448	1 196	1 521	1 441
Civil Jurisdiction
High Court Actions	3 041	3 010	2 431	1 971	1 709	1 519
Miscellaneous Proceedings@	2 778	2 274	2 385	2 205	1 497	1 430
Bankruptcy & Companies Winding-up+	8 880	8 550	9 272	8 838	8 359	9 227
Personal Injuries Actions	1 394	1 307	506	1 301	1 408	1 335
Other cases#	1 507	3 365	4 380	517	1 134	1 096
Sub-total	17 600	18 506	18 974	14 832	14 107	14 607
Total	18 805	20 118	20 422	16 028	15 628	16 048
Masters Chambers
Interlocutory hearings**	24 882	24 530	25 382	22 549	21 924	24 099
Taxation bills	681	638	547	527(1)	486(1)	418(1)
Probate
Applications	20 477	20 797	21 005	19 537(2)	19 886(2)	20 503(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
^{^}	A new case type created to capture criminal miscellaneous matters before the Court of First Instance with effect from 1 July 2017. Its caseload was formerly subsumed under High Court Miscellaneous Proceedings and categorized under civil jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance
^@	An existing case type revised to exclude miscellaneous matters before the Court of Appeal and criminal miscellaneous matters before the Court of First Instance with effect from 1 July 2017
⁺	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, Stop Notices, Confidential Miscellaneous Proceedings (Civil) (an existing case type revised to include confidential matters in civil nature before the Court of First Instance which came into effect on 26 June 2017) and Intellectual Property (a new case type created to capture intellectual property matters before the Court of First Instance with effect from 6 May 2019. Its caseload was formerly subsumed under High Court Actions or High Court Miscellaneous Proceedings and categorized under civil jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance)
**	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

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	Average Waiting Time (days)
	Target	2017	2018	2019
*Court of Appeal*
- Criminal - from setting down of a case to hearing	50	47	49	49
Civil - from application to fix date to hearing	90	89	88	89
*Court of First Instance*
Criminal Fixture List - from filing of indictment to hearing*	-	164	167	167
Civil Fixture List - from application to fix date to hearing	180	163	168	173
Civil Running List - from not-to-be-warned date to hearing	30	16	38	29
Appeals from Magistrates' Courts - from lodging of Notice of Appeal to hearing	90	91	103	105

A new Practice Direction on criminal proceedings in the Court of First Instance of the High Court was promulgated in June 2017 to enhance management of criminal proceedings. Having regard to the new procedures under the Practice Direction, consideration is being given to review how the average waiting time for the Criminal Fixture List should be measured. In addition, the Criminal Expedited List has replaced the Criminal Running List. The way to measure the average waiting time of the Criminal Expedited List and the setting of its target are being considered in the light of the operation of the new measures

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Competition Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL

	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Application for Review	0	0	0	0	0	0
Enforcement Action	2	1	1	0	0	0
Action	0	2	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous Proceedings	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	2	3	1	0	0	0

*	Case disposal refers to applications / claims which have been successfully made or dismissed

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL

As there are only three cases being set down for trial/substantive hearing in the Competition Tribunal, the waiting time is inapplicable. The target average waiting time will be considered when more cases are set down for trial/substantive hearing at the Tribunal

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

District Court

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE DISTRICT COURT

	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Criminal Jurisdiction
Criminal Cases	1 156	1 188	961	1 050	988	1 201
Civil Jurisdiction
Civil	5 815	6 067	7 053	4 893	4 649	4 977
Tax Claim	1 658	1 831	1 564	1 657	1 517	1 281
Distress for Rent	3 623	3 424	4 783	3 628	3 344	4 650
Employee's Compensation	2 939	3 038	3 046	2 804	3 008	2 869
Other civil cases +	6 515	7 093	9 496	5 799	5 709	4 792
Sub-total	20 550	21 453	25 942	18 781	18 227	18 569
Family Jurisdiction
Matrimonial Causes	17 006	16 458	15 393	14 782	14 933	15 223
Joint Applications	6 296	6 540	6 681	4 612	5 388	5 934
Miscellaneous Proceedings	266	275	262	242	244	236
Adoption Applications	66	72	50	62	55	45
Sub-total	23 634	23 345	22 386	19 698(1)	20 620(1)	21 438(1)
Total (Civil)	44 184	44 798	48 328	38 479	38 847	40 007
Total	45 340	45 986	49 289	39 529	39 835	41 208
Masters Chambers
Interlocutory hearings**	7 502	7 683	10 382	6 500	6 634	7 988
Taxation bills
Divorce	1 013	941	823	905	870	766
Others	466	379	525	142	320	370
Sub-total	1 479	1 320	1 348	1 047(2)	1 190(2)	1 136(2)
Total	8 981	9 003	11 730	7 547	7 824	9 124

*	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, Estate Agents Appeals and Stop Notice Cases (a new case type created to capture stop notice cases with effect from 3 September 2018)
**	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	2017	2018	2019
Criminal - from first appearance of defendants in District Court to hearing	100	152	187	191
Civil Fixture List - from date of listing to hearing	120	102	95	95
Civil Running List - from not-to-be-warned date to hearing	30	25	16	21
Dissolution of marriage - from setting down of a case to hearing
Special Procedure List	35	34	35	35
Defended List (all hearings)	110	85	111	89
Financial applications - from setting down of a case to hearing	110-140	95	90	81

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Lands Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL

	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Appeal cases	482	313	1 472	238	370	493
Compensation cases	6	11	1	4	9	15
Building management cases	281	269	298	248	237	209
Tenancy cases	3 811	3 663	3 910	3 031	3 011	3 164
Lands compulsory sale applications	15	40	37	23	11	22
Miscellaneous proceedings applications	58	3	3	5	29	2
Total	4 653	4 299	5 721	3 549	3 667	3 905

*	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	2017	2018	2019
From setting down of a case to hearing
Appeal cases	90	-*	20	35
Compensation cases	90	60	38	38
Building management cases	90	44	29	21
Tenancy cases	50	23	19	17

*	As there is no appeal case filed, the waiting time is inapplicable

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Magistrates' Courts

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS

	Caseload			Disposal*
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Charge Cases	30 860	30 221	25 798	30 550	29 607	25 405
Hawker Cases	1 963	1 628	1 216	1 965	1 626	1 204
Departmental & Private Summonses	179 753	175 738	170 156	179 223	174 693	170 625
Driving-Offence Points Summonses	2 333	2 240	2 277	2 213	2 251	2 218
Fixed Penalty Summonses (Traffic)	606	532	468	617	530	526
Fixed Penalty Summonses (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction)	115	72	97	115	77	96
Fixed Penalty Summonses (Smoking Offences)	34	24	21	27	26	21
Fixed Penalty Summonses (Vehicle Idling)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fixed Penalty Summonses (Mandatory Window Inspection)	8	13	21	5	16	19
Fixed Penalty Summonses (Plastic Shopping Bag)	2	0	0	3	0	0
Miscellaneous Proceedings	11 379	11 052	10 869	11 511	10 857	10 650
Departmental Notice	677	676	636	748	636	654
Fixed Penalty Notice (Traffic)	107 958	115 045	117 497	106 287	110 020	129 843
Fixed Penalty Notice (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction)	2 455	2 388	2 542	2 407	2 335	2 610
Fixed Penalty Notice (Smoking Offences)	823	861	723	872	870	698
Fixed Penalty Notice (Vehicle Idling)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fixed Penalty Notice (Mandatory Window Inspection)	11	122	425	11	79	417
Fixed Penalty Recovery Order (Plastic Shopping Bag)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	338 977	340 612	332 746	336 554	333 623	344 986

*	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

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS

	Average Waiting Time (days)
	Target	2017	2018	2019
Summonses - from plea to date of trial	50	65	76	67
Charge cases except for Juvenile Court - from plea to date of trial
For defendants in custody	30-45	31	47	41
For defendants on bail	45-60	40	57	51
Charge cases for Juvenile Court - from plea to date of trial
For defendants in custody	30-45	-*	-*	30
For defendants on bail	45-60	48	58	58

*	As there is no charge case for the Juvenile Court where the defendant is remanded in custody, the waiting time is inapplicable

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Labour Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL

	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Claims	4 015	3 955	4 323	4 048	3 607	4 143
Reviews	86	94	78	86	89	81
Restore claims	68	43	71	62	42	59
Set-aside awards	80	88	131	78	87	113
Total	4 249	4 180	4 603	4 274	3 825	4 396

*	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	2017	2018	2019
From appointment to filing of a case	30	26	25	29
From filing of a case to first hearing	30	24	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*
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Claims	51 012	55 007	55 879	51 509	54 355	55 304
Reviews	223	208	189	224	203	170
Total	51 235	55 215	56 068	51 733	54 558	55 474

*	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	2017	2018	2019
From filing of a case to first hearing	60	32	33	36

Caseload, Case Disposal and Waiting Time at Different Court Levels

Obscene Articles Tribunal

CASELOAD AND CASE DISPOSAL OF THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL

	Caseload			Disposal *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Articles for determination	0	9 073	21 081	0	9 073	21 081
Articles for classification	174	167	82	179	168	81
Articles for review	4	0	0	2	2	0
Articles for reconsideration	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	178	9 240	21 163	181	9 243	21 162

*	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	2017	2018	2019
From referral by a magistrate to determination	21	-#	22	15
From receipt of application to classification	5	3	3	2
From receipt of application to review	35	29	-^	-^
From receipt of application to reconsideration	35	-*	-*	-*

^#	As there is no application for determination filed, the waiting time is inapplicable
^{^}	As there is no application for review filed, the waiting time is inapplicable
*	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 *
	2017	2018	2019	2017	2018	2019
Death inquests with jury	124	155	106	112	152	114
Death inquests without jury	7	12	11	5	9	16
Total	131	167	117	117	161	130

* Case disposal refers to death inquests concluded

AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR CASES IN THE CORONER'S COURT

	Average Waiting Time (days)
	Target	2017	2018	2019
From date of listing to hearing	42	79	65	61

Membership List of the Civil Justice Reform Monitoring Committee

- Chairman	Chief Judge, High Court
- Members	The Hon Mr Justice S C POON, JA Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court (up to 31.7.2019)
	The Hon Mr Justice H C AU, JA Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal 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
	Registrar, District Court
	His Honour Judge C M LEUNG Master, High Court
	Ms Jenny FUNG Department of Justice
	Mr Thomas Edward KWONG, JP Legal Aid Department
	Mr Paul LAM, SC Hong Kong Bar Association
	Mr Brian GILCHRIST Law Society of Hong Kong
	Mrs Cecilia WONG Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited
	Miss Emma LAU Judiciary Administrator
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (up to 31.10.2019)
	Ms Wendy CHEUNG Acting Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (w.e.f. 1.11.2019)
- Secretary	Ms Winnie WONG Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)1

Membership List of the Working Party on Mediation

- Chairman	The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P
- Members	The Hon Mr Justice Barnabas FUNG, GBS Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	The Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	The Hon Mr Justice David LOK Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	The Hon Madam Justice K Y WONG Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	Mr KWANG Cheok-weung, Simon Registrar, High Court
	His Honour Judge Justin KO Acting Chief District Judge
	His Honour Judge C K CHAN Principal Family Court Judge
	Mr Clifford Tavares Department of Justice
	Mr Chris CHONG Legal Aid Department
	Ms Elaine LIU
	Mrs Cecilia WONG
	Mr CHAN Bing-woon, SBS, JP
	Professor Leung Hing-fung
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (up to 31.10.2019)
	Ms Wendy CHEUNG Acting Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (w.e.f. 1.11.2019)
	Ms April LAM Chief Judiciary Executive (Mediation Affairs)
- Secretary	Ms Eva KONG Mediation Co-ordinator (up to 1.12.2019)
	Mr Ernest TSANG Mediation Co-ordinator (w.e.f. 2.12.2019)

Membership List of the Court Users' Committees

Admiralty Court Users’ Committee (Up to 14.7.2019)

- Chairman	The Hon Mr Justice Anthony CHAN Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
- Members	Mr KWANG Cheok-weung, Simon Registrar, High Court
	Mr Bill AMOS
	Mr Nigel BINNERSLEY
	Ms Brenda CHARK
	Mr Jeevan HINGORANI
	Mr Andrew HORTON
	Mr Jim JAMES
	Mr Matthew LAM
	Mr George LAMPLOUGH
	Mr Damien LARACY
	Mr William LEUNG
	Mr Rory MACFARLANE
	Mr Nicholas MALLARD
	Mr Peter MILLS
	Mr Chris POTTS
	Mr Jason TOMS
	Mr Sam TSUI
	Mr Richard WILMOT
	Mr Colin WRIGHT
	Mr Jon W. ZINKE
	Ms CHIU Shuk-man Ag.Chief Bailiff (Administration & Admiralty) (up to 5.5.2019)
	Ms Winnie CHIM Chief Bailiff (Administration & Admiralty) (w.e.f. 6.5.2019)
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
- Secretary	Ms Winifred CHAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Civil Court Users' Committee

- 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 S C POON, JA Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court (up to 31.7.2019)
	The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	The Hon Mr Justice Anderson CHOW Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	Mr KWANG Cheok-weung, Simon Registrar, High Court
	His Honour Judge Justin KO Acting Chief District Judge
	Mr Francis KWAN Department of Justice
	Mr Steve WONG Legal Aid Department
	Ms Ophelia LOK Official Receiver's Office
	Mr Paul SHIEH, SC
	Mr Brian W. Gilchrist
	Mr Peter CHUA
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (up to 31.10.2019)
	Ms Wendy CHEUNG Acting Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (w.e.f. 1.11.2019)
	Mr Joe CHENG Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)2
- Secretary	Ms Winifred CHAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Sub-Committee on Companies and Insolvency Matters of the Civil Court Users’ Committee (Up to 14.8.2019)

- Chairman	The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan R HARRIS Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
- Members	The Hon Mr Justice Peter NG Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	Master Reuden LAI
	Master K H HUI
	Mr William MF WONG, SC
	Mr HO Man-kei, Keith
	Mr Mat NG
	Ms Agnes MAK
	Ms Ophelia LOK Official Receiver's Office
	Ms Kitty TSUI Companies Registry
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
	Mr Joe CHENG Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)2
- Secretary	Ms Winifred CHAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Criminal Court Users' Committee

- Chairman	The Hon Madam Justice Anthea PANG Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
- Members	The Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHAN Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	The Hon Mr Justice Albert WONG Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	Mr KWANG Cheok-weung, Simon Registrar, High Court
	His Honour Judge Justin KO Acting Chief District Judge
	Mr SO Wai-tak, Victor Acting Chief Magistrate
	Mr William TAM, SC Department of Justice
	Ms Juliana O Y CHAN Legal Aid Department
	Ms Grace WONG The Duty Lawyer Service
	Mr HO Kwok-keung, Simon Independent Commission Against Corruption
	Mr CHAN Wing-on, Francis Hong Kong Police Force
	Mr LEUNG Kin-ip, Kenneth Correctional Services Department (up to 10.5.2019)
	Mr NG Chiu-kok Correctional Services Department (w.e.f. 11.5.2019)
	Mr Graham HARRIS, SC
	Mr Kenneth NG
	Mr HO Yat-wan, Alec
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (up to 31.10.2019)
	Ms Wendy CHEUNG Acting Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (w.e.f. 1.11.2019)
	Mr Calvin YAU Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)3
- Secretary	Ms Winifred CHAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Family Proceedings Court Users' Committee

- Chairman	The Hon Mr Justice Johnson LAM, V-P Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
- Members	The Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU-YEUNG Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	The Hon Madam Justice B. CHU Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
	Mr KWANG Cheok-weung, Simon Registrar, High Court
	His Honour Judge C K CHAN Principal Family Court Judge
	His Honour Judge Ivan WONG Family Court Judge
	Mr Dick HO Registrar, District Court (up to 14.7.2019)
	Mr Simon LUI Registrar, District Court (w.e.f. 15.7.2019)
	Ms PANG Kit-ling Social Welfare Department
	Miss CHAN Dao-kit, Doreen Legal Aid Department
	Mr LI Chi-keung, Ben Official Solicitor's Office
	Ms Corinne REMEDIOS
	Mr Dennis HO
	Ms Jain BROWN
- In Attendance	Mrs Erika HUI Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (up to 31.10.2019)
	Ms Wendy CHEUNG Acting Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) (w.e.f. 1.11.2019)
	Ms Jackie LUI Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court) (up to 10.3.2019)
	Ms Jolly LAM Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court) (w.e.f. 11.3.2019)
- Secretary	Ms Winifred CHAN Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)

Competition Tribunal Users' Committee

- Chairman	The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM President of the Competition Tribunal
- Members	The Hon Madam Justice Queeny AU YEUNG Deputy President of the Competition Tribunal
	Master K H HUI Master, High Court
	Mr Francis KWAN Department of Justice
	Mr Steven PARKER Competition Commission
	Mr Benson CHENG Communications Authority
	Mr P Y LO
	Mr CHAN Nicholas Hiu Fung
- Secretary	Miss Priscilla WONG Senior Judicial Clerk I (Competition Tribunal)

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 Frank STOCK, GBS Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal
	The Hon Mr Justice Wally YEUNG Acting Chief Judge of the High Court
	The Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU 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
	The Hon Mr Justice Tony POON Judge with special responsibility for the Executive Body of the Hong Kong Judicial Institute
	His Honour Judge Justin KO Acting Chief District Judge
	Mr SO Wai-tak Acting Chief Magistrate
	Miss Emma LAU Judiciary Administrator

Judiciary Administration

The Judiciary Administration is headed by the Judiciary Administrator, who assists the Chief Justice in the overall administration of the Judiciary. It provides support to the courts in the administration of justice and their operations.

Judiciary Administration

Miss Emma LAU , Judiciary Administrator

Operations Division

Mrs Erika HUI, Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) [up to 31.10.2019]
Ms Wendy CHEUNG, Acting Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Operations) [w.e.f. 1.11.2019]

(a)	Information Technology Office (Technical)	Ms Candy CHAN	Acting Chief Systems Manager (Information Technology) [up to 9.9.2019]
		Ms Candy CHAN	Chief Systems Manager (Information Technology) [w.e.f. 10.9.2019]
		Mr Kenneth YEUNG	Chief Systems Manager (Special Duties) [up to 1.3.2019]
(b)	Information Technology Office (Operational)	Mr Harry TSANG	Acting Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) [up to 3.1.2019]^{Note 1}
		Mr Harry TSANG	Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) [w.e.f. 4.1.2019]^{Note 1}
(c)	Operations Division	Ms Nancy MAK	Acting Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Operations)
		Ms Winifred CHAN	Chief Judiciary Executive (Operations)
(d)	Support to Judges Section	Ms Hedy WU	Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)1
		Mr Joe CHENG	Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)2 [up to 20.8.2019]
		Mr Joe CHENG	Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)2 [w.e.f. 21.8.2019]
		Mr Calvin YAU	Chief Judiciary Executive (Support to Judges)3
(e)	Clerk of Court's Office	Ms Terri TANG	Clerk of Court
(f)	Court of Final Appeal Registry	Ms Wendy CHUI	Senior Judicial Clerk I (Court of Final Appeal) [up to 22.4.2019]
		Ms Theresa Au	Acting Senior Judicial Clerk I (Court of Final Appeal) [w.e.f. 23.4.2019]
(g)	High Court Registry	Ms Catherine LI	Chief Judicial Clerk (High Court Registry)
(h)	Competition Tribunal Registry	Ms Priscilla WONG	Senior Judicial Clerk I (Competition Tribunal)
(i)	District Court	Ms Anny TAM	Acting Chief Judicial Clerk (Registry, District Court)
		Ms Clare TSANG	Chief Judicial Clerk (Courts, District Court)
(j)	Family Court Registry	Ms Jackie LUI	Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court) [up to 10.3.2019]
		Ms Jolly LAM	Acting Chief Judicial Clerk (Family Court) [w.e.f. 11.3.2019]
(k)	Lands Tribunal Registry	Ms Elsa CHAN	Chief Judicial Clerk (Lands Tribunal) [up to 29.9.2019]
		Ms Amy LEUNG	Acting Chief Judicial Clerk (Lands Tribunal) [w.e.f. 30.9.2019]
(l)	Magistrates' Courts General Office	Ms Pauline KWOK	Senior Judiciary Executive (Magistracies)
(m)	Probate Registry	Ms Memory WONG	Chief Probate Officer
(n)	Labour Tribunal Registry	Ms Wendy SHUM	Registrar (Labour Tribunal) [up to 22.4.2019]
		Mr Jackson CHAN	Registrar (Labour Tribunal) [w.e.f. 23.4.2019]
(o)	Small Claims Tribunal Registry	Mr Jackson CHAN	Chief Judicial Clerk (Small Claims Tribunal) [up to 22.4.2019]
		Ms Wendy CHUI	Acting Chief Judicial Clerk (Small Claims Tribunal) [w.e.f. 23.4.2019]
(p)	Court Language Section	Mr Brian YAU	Chief Judiciary Executive (Court Language)1
		Ms Millia TANG	Chief Judiciary Executive (Court Language)2
		Ms Patience IP	Chief Judiciary Executive (Court Language)3
(q)	Bailiff Section	Ms S M CHIU	Acting Chief Bailiff (Administration and Admiralty) [up to 5.5.2019]
		Ms FL CHIM	Chief Bailiff (Administration and Admiralty) [w.e.f. 6.5.2019]
		Ms F L CHIM	Chief Bailiff (Operations) [up to 5.5.2019]
		Mr T S YU	Acting Chief Bailiff (Operations) [from 6.5.2019 to 2.7.2019]
		Mr T S YU	Chief Bailiff (Operations) [w.e.f. 3.7.2019]
(r)	Mediation Section	Ms April LAM	Senior Mediation Affairs Officer [up to 31.7.2019]
		Ms April LAM	Chief Judiciary Executive (Mediation Affairs) [w.e.f. 1.8.2019]
		Ms Eva KONG	Mediation Affairs Officer (2) [temporarily sharing the duties of Mediation Coordinator up to 21.1.2019]
		Ms Eva KONG	Acting Mediation Coordinator [from 22.1.2019 to 24.11.2019]
		Mr Ernest TSANG	Acting Mediation Coordinator [w.e.f. 2.12.2019]
(s)	Information Technology Office (Technical)	Mr Kenneth CHAN	Senior Systems Manager (1)
		Mr Jones TAM	Acting Senior Systems Manager (2)
		Mr Kelly LAU	Senior Systems Manager (3) [up to 10.6.2019]
		Mr Alex LEE	Acting Senior Systems Manager (3) [from 11.6.2019 to 26.6.2019]
		Mr Alex LEE	Senior Systems Manager (3) [w.e.f. 27.6.2019]
		Mr Alex LEE	Acting Senior Systems Manager (4) [up to 10.6.2019]
		Mr Gordon WONG	Systems Manager (7) [temporarily sharing the duties of Senior Systems Manager(4) from 11.6.2019 to 21.7.2019]
		Mr Wilson WONG	Systems Manager (6) [temporarily sharing the duties of Senior Systems Manager(4) from 22.7.2019 to 19.9.2019]
		Mr Gordon WONG	Systems Manager (7) [temporarily sharing the duties of Senior Systems Manager(4) from 20.9.2019 to 28.10.2019]
		Mr Alex TAI	Acting Senior Systems Manager (4) [w.e.f. 29.10.2019]
(t)	Information Technology Office (Operational)	Mr Brian CHIU	Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)
		Ms Eva LEE	Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)1
		Ms Carol FUNG	Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)2
		Ms Mimi HO	Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)3 [up to 22.4.2019]
		Ms Wendy SHUM	Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)3 [w.e.f. 23.4.2019]
		Mr Barry LEE	Senior Judiciary Executive (Information Technology Office)4

Development Division

Ms Patricia SO, Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Development)

(a)	Development Office	Ms Wendy CHEUNG	Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)1 [up to 31.10.2019]
		Ms Winnie WONG	Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)1 [w.e.f. 1.11.2019]
		Mr David LAU	Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)(Special Duties) [up to 31.1.2019]
		Mr David LAU	Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Development)2 [w.e.f. 1.2.2019]
(b)	Press & Public Relations Office	Ms Daisy KWOK	Principal Information Officer [up to 1.7.2019]
		Ms Daisy KWOK	Acting Chief Information Officer (Judiciary) [w.e.f. 2.7.2019]
(c)	Secretariat for Complaints against Judicial Conduct	Ms Vivian WAH	Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Secretariat for Complaints against Judicial Conduct)

Quality Division

Mr Harry TSANG, Acting Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) [up to 3.1.2019]
Mr Harry TSANG, Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Quality and Information Technology) [w.e.f. 4.1.2019]

(a)	Complaints Office	Ms Crystal LEE	Senior Judiciary Executive (Complaints) [up to 7.7.2019]
		Mr Vincent NG	Acting Senior Judiciary Executive (Complaints) [w.e.f. 8.7.2019]
(b)	Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Services Section^{Note 2}	Ms Peggy Lai	Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Services) [w.e.f. 17.12.2019]
(c)	Legal Reference and Library Section	Ms Miranda FUNG	Senior Judiciary Executive (Legal Reference and Library)
(d)	Management Review and Information Section^{Note 3}	Ms Prudence CHAN	Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Management Review and Information) [up to 17.4.2019]^{Note 3}
		Ms Prudence CHAN	Chief Judiciary Executive (Management Review and Information) [w.e.f. 18.4.2019]

Corporate Services Division

Mrs Connie NGAN, Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Corporate Services) [up to 15.5.2019]
Mr Jock TAM, Acting Assistant Judiciary Administrator (Corporate Services) [w.e.f. 16.5.2019]

(a)	Project Planning and Accommodation Section	Mr Francis CHENG	Acting Principal Executive Officer (Project Planning and Accommodation) [up to 3.1.2019]
		Mr Francis CHENG	Principal Executive Officer (Project Planning and Accommodation) [w.e.f. 4.1.2019]
(b)	Finance Section	Mr Raymond NG	Chief Treasury Accountant [up to 22.4.2019]
		Mr Desmond LAM	Acting Chief Treasury Accountant [w.e.f. 23.4.2019]
(c)	Judges and Judicial Officers Section	Ms Queenie LEUNG	Acting Chief Judiciary Executive (Judges and Judicial Officers) [up to 7.1.2019]
		Ms Queenie LEUNG	Chief Judiciary Executive (Judges and Judicial Officers) [w.e.f. 8.1.2019]
(d)	Support Staff Section	Ms Ivy TANG	Chief Judiciary Executive (Support Staff)

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:	Section renamed from Court Reporters Office to Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Services Section since 17.12.2019.
Note 3:	Post re-titled from Chief Judiciary Executive (Management Review) to Chief Judiciary Executive (Management Review and Information) w.e.f. 1.4.2019 upon merging of the Management Review Section and the Management Information Section to form a new section named the Management Review and Information Section since 1.4.2019.

Judicial Training

Local Judicial Training Activities Organised by the Hong Kong Judicial Institute

Date	Activity
Sep 2018 – Jan 2019, May – Sep 2019 & Dec 2019	Chinese judgment writing courses
Oct 2018 – Feb 2019	Putonghua courses
23.1.2019	Talk entitled “Understanding the New Penalty Provisions for Wildlife Crime” by Mr Mark FENHALLS QC and Associate Professor Amanda WHITFORT, Faculty of Law at University of Hong Kong and online training modules on wildlife crime by Associate Professor Amanda WHITFORT, Faculty of Law at University of Hong Kong
1.2.2019	Talk on Chinese customary law for District Judges by the Hon Mr Justice Louis CHAN, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
27.2, 30.4, 11.7, 27.8, 4.11 & 9.12.2019	Induction briefings for Deputy Magistrates / Adjudicators
15.3.2019	Seminar on Skills in meeting with Children
29.3, 10.5 & 23.8.2019	Sentencing workshops for Magistrates
29.4, 16.9 & 17.9.2019	Intervisioning sessions of Case Management workshop
25.5.2019	Talk on wildlife crime
24.6.2019	Sentencing Workshop and Reasons for Sentence for District Judges by the Hon Mr Justice ZERVOS, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
8.7, 15.7, 5.8, 12.8, 19.8 & 26.8.2019	Training courses on Chinese Input Method
10.7.2019	Course on E-bundle for Actual Hearing
11.7.2019	Sharing Session on External Mediation Master Scheme
19.7.2019	Case Management workshop for Magistrates
13.9.2019	Workshop on Delivery of Oral Decisions
18.11 & 25.11.2019	Training courses on Legal Research
21.11.2019	Follow-up training on E-bundle for Actual Hearing
22.11.2019	Workshop on call-over hearings at tribunals
25.11.2019	Workshop on case management for District Court Masters
29.11.2019	Talk on Defamation for District Judges by the Hon Mr Justice LOK, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
12.12.2019	Talk entitled “Judges and the Public: Ivory Tower or Engaged Actors” by The Rt Hon Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin, Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal

Other Local Judicial Training Activities Attended by Judges and Judicial Officers

Date	Activity
25 – 26.1.2019	Towering Judges Conference, organised by the Chinese University of Hong Kong
27.3.2019	Talk entitled “Fiduciaries and their Principals: Business Opportunities & Competition. A short Survey with some Observations”, organised by the Hong Kong Bar Association
4.4.2019	A Sharing Session on Custodians of Intellectual Property, organised by the University of Hong Kong
24.6.2019	Workshop entitled “Healthcare Alternative Dispute Resolution”, organised by the University of Hong Kong
16.7.2019	Talk entitled “Animals Make a Better World”, organised by the University of Hong Kong
17.9.2019	Seminar entitled “Conflict of fundamental rights and the double proportionality test” by the Hon Mr Justice Andrew CHEUNG, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, organised by the University of Hong Kong
20.9.2019	Talk entitled “Should we sue doctors?”, organised by the University of Hong Kong
28.11.2019	Seminar entitled “Reclaiming 'Privacy': The Adulteration of a Fundamental Right”, co-organized by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong

Judicial Training Activities Organised with/by Other Jurisdictions/Organisations

Date	Activity
27 – 28.2.2019	Judgment Writing and Oral Judgment Programme in Singapore, organised by the Singapore Judicial College
20 – 21.3.2019	Assessing Credibility of Witnesses Programme in Singapore, organised by the Singapore Judicial College
2 – 21.6.2019	Intensive Study Programme for Judicial Educators in Canada, organised by the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute

Number of Visits and Visitors to the Judiciary

	2018	2019
Local
No. of visits	260	293
No. of visitors	8 128	9 254
The Mainland
No. of visits	50	26
No. of visitors	1 180	541
Overseas
No. of visits	29	18
No. of visitors	345	206
Total
No. of visits	339	337
No. of visitors	9 653	10 001

	Number of Visitors
Category of Visitors	2018	2019
Judges and legal profession	470	418
Government officials	460	104
Students and others	8 723	9 479
Total	9 653	10 001

Expenditure and Revenue of the Judiciary in 2018-19

Recurrent Expenditure

	2018-2019 ($' 000)
- Personal Emoluments	1,243,378
- Departmental Expenses	540,406
- Other Charges	12,594
Total	1,796,378

Revenue*

	2018-2019 ($' 000)
- Fees & Charges	186,987
- Fines	277,300
- Forfeitures & Others	520,556
Total	984,843

* Revenue collected by the Judiciary forms part of the Government's General Revenue

Complaints against Judges and Judicial Officers

Number of Complaints Disposed of by the Chief Justice and the Court Leaders	Nature of Complaints				2019 Total
	Judicial / Statutory Decision	Judicial Conduct	Both Judicial / Statutory Decision and Judicial Conduct	Dissatisfaction with the Court Leader’s handling and / or findings of the original complaints	2019 Total
Chief Justice	4	0	0	5	9
Chief Judge of the High Court	38	0	2	NA	40
Chief District Judge	14	0	2	NA	16
Chief Magistrate	297¹	0	6	NA	303
Sub-total	353	0	10	5	368

Notes:
1.	Includes 240 complaints relating to the judicial decision of one court case.
2.	The total number of cases filed in 2019 is 513,148.
3.	Complaints related to judicial conduct can be broadly classified according to their nature. Among complaints on judicial conduct above, 2 cases are related to attitude and behavior in court, 4 cases are related to handling of actual proceedings in court, and 4 cases are related to mixed nature.
4.	There is no justified case among the complaints above.

Complaints against the Judiciary Administration

Nature of Complaints	2019*
- Complaints about procedures	15
- Complaints about facilities	3
- Complaints about the judicial support services	63
- Complaints against staff of the Judiciary Administration	39
Total	120

* Oral complaints included

Last Update Date : 26-02-2020