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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Civil Justice Reform (CJR) will take effect tomorrow (April 2) in accordance with the Civil Justice (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2008 (Commencement) Notice.
The CJR seeks to improve rules and procedures in civil proceedings. It applies to the High Court and the District Court, and some of the new rules and procedures also apply to the Lands Tribunal and the Family Court with modifications.
A spokesman for the Judiciary said today (April 1), "The CJR aims to give the Court more powers to manage the progress of cases, streamline and improve civil procedures, encourage and facilitate settlement and enable judicial resources to be better distributed and utilised."
Following close consultation with the legal profession and other interested parties, a package of CJR legislative amendments has been enacted by the Legislative Council. A set of 24 Practice Directions (PDs) has also been promulgated to regulate the conduct of court proceedings under the reformed system.
In addition, a series of 13 information leaflets have been made available to members of the public including court users, and a revamped website on CJR (www.civiljustice.gov.hk) has been launched since March 17. A video on the CJR will be shown at the Resource Centre for Unrepresented Litigants located at the High Court Building, Queensway and uploaded onto the website starting tomorrow (April 2).
Ends/Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:33
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