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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The consultation exercise on Civil Justice Reform, scheduled to end on 30 April 2002, will be extended for two months until the end of June 2002, the Honourable Mr Justice Patrick Chan, Chairman of the Working Party on Civil Justice Reform, said today (April 30, 2002).
The decision to extend the consultation period was made having taking into account a request from the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
The Working Party on Civil Justice Reform, appointed by the Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Kwok-nang Li, issued the Interim Report and Consultative Paper (Consultative Paper) in November last year to invite views on possible changes to rules and procedures of the civil justice system in Hong Kong.
It examines the situation in Hong Kong and reports on developments abroad which are relevant to Hong Kong.
Since publication, the Consultative Paper has generated active discussion within the community, in particular within the legal profession.
The Hong Kong Bar Association has set up a Special Committee to study the proposals in the Consultative Paper. Its Special Committee has prepared an interim report and is in the process of consulting members of the Bar.
The Bar Council has thus requested an extension of time of two months to submit its response to the Consultative Paper.
The Chairman of the Working Party, Justice Chan, has agreed to the proposed extension of time as requested by the Bar Council.
"We consider that the same extension should apply to all other parties who would like to take more time to study the Consultative Paper before submitting their response. We have therefore decided to extend the consultation period by two months until 30 June 2002," Justice Chan said.
"So far, we have received 59 responses giving views on the various proposals of the Consultative Paper," Justice Chan said.
"Responses have come from the Law Society, government departments, interested parties and organisations and members of the public. Members and support staff of the Judiciary also submitted their comments."
Comments and views received will be collated for the consideration of the Working Party, which will make its recommendations in a Final Report to be submitted to the Chief Justice.
Interested parties, organisations and members of the public are welcome to continue to give their comments to the Consultative Paper which can be downloaded from the website <www.civiljustice.gov.hk>.
"All parties concerned will no doubt appreciate that the Working Party may find it difficult to give any extension of time beyond June, as this will seriously affect and delay the progress of the Working Party," said Justice Chan.
End/Tuesday, April 30, 2002
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