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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The civil jurisdictional limits of the District Court will be increased to $1 million from $600,000 with effect from December 1 this year.

A Judiciary spokesman said today (November 28) that following the increase, more civil cases involving smaller claims could be heard in the District Court instead of the High Court, thereby reducing litigation costs and enhancing access to justice.

The new civil jurisdictional limits of the District Court will cover (a) general jurisdiction in actions of contract, quasi-contract and tort; (b) money recoverable by enactment; (c) equity jurisdiction; and (d) jurisdiction to grant injunctions and to make declarations.

The Legislative Council passed a resolution in October to raise the limits, which was moved by the Administration following recommendations from the Judiciary on completion of a review early this year.

The civil jurisdictional limits were last increased to $600,000 in September 2000.

Ends/Friday, November 28, 2003

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