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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary announced today (June 29, 2001) that the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts would commence operation next Tuesday (July 3) in the newly completed Kowloon City Law Courts Building.

It will replace the 30-year old San Po Kong Magistrates' Courts (SPKM) which will cease operation on the same day.

The 11-storey new Building is located at 147M Argyle Street, Kowloon and has a total area of 16,500 square metres.

A spokesman for the Judiciary said that it had been the Judiciary's aim to upgrade the court facilities to better serve the community.

'To meet the present day needs of court users, the new Law Courts Building is better equipped for the disabled, and has more spacious public waiting areas" the spokesman said.

The Kowloon City Law Courts Building has a total of 10 courtrooms, 12 Witness Waiting Rooms, 10 Consultation Rooms, and robing rooms for lawyers.

The courts are also furnished with digital audio recording system, audio-video presentation facilities and close circuit TV system for vulnerable witnesses.

It also provides a loading and unloading area for police vehicles.

The construction cost of the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts is at $250m.

The spokesman noted that besides cases currently handled by the SPKM, the Juvenile Court at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts would also move to the new courts.

There are presently eight courts operating in SPKM. They handled 73,286 and 81,759 cases annually in 2000 and 1999 respectively.

As for the plan for the use of the SPKM Building after closure, the spokesman said the Building would be handed back to the government for its disposal.

End/Friday, June 29, 2001

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