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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary announced today (December 8) that the North Kowloon Magistrates' Courts will be closed with effect from January 3, 2005.

The caseload of the North Kowloon Magistrates' Courts will be absorbed by the Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts, where three extra courts will be set up.

The Magistrates and support staff now working in the North Kowloon Magistrates' Courts will be redeployed to other Magistrates' Courts.

"The closure of North Kowloon Magistrates' Courts is part of the Judiciary's efforts to achieve efficiency savings demanded on the whole public sector," a Judiciary spokesperson explained.

"Following the closure and rationalisation of resources, a saving in annual recurrent expenditure of about $6.6 million can be achieved."

The spokesperson stressed that notwithstanding the closure, the quality of justice would be maintained.

The Judiciary will continue to monitor the waiting time of all Magistrates' Courts closely and will try its best to keep the overall waiting time within a reasonable period.

The North Kowloon Magistrates' Courts has served the community for over 44 years. The Judiciary intends to return the vacated premises to the Government.

The Judiciary also plans to merge the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts with the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts in early 2006.

Ends/Wednesday, December 8, 2004

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