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Judiciary (Five-day Week) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance (Commencement) Notice gazetted
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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary (Five-day Week) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2016 (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice) was published in the Gazette today (October 21).

     To bring the Judiciary (Five-day Week) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2016 (the Amendment Ordinance) into operation, the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal made the Commencement Notice to appoint January 3, 2017, as its commencement date.

     "The Amendment Ordinance, which was passed by the Legislative Council on June 2, 2016, seeks to implement the final phase of a five-day week in the Judiciary," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.

     The court offices, which include court registries and accounts offices of various levels of court, Bailiffs' Offices, the Probate Registry and the Oaths and Declarations Office, will generally be closed on Saturdays. Their opening hours for Mondays to Fridays will become from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm. 

     The Judiciary will ensure that essential public services will not be affected as a result of the implementation of the final phase. Specifically, the proposals will not affect the handling of fresh remand cases at Magistrates' Courts, and urgent cases and applications made to various levels of court. These cases may continue to be handled outside office hours, including Saturdays, as necessary.

     "The Judiciary will also put in place administrative arrangements to facilitate the opening of court offices on Saturdays, as necessary, to cater for any possible bail payments and related applications," the spokesman added.

     The Commencement Notice will be tabled in the Legislative Council for negative vetting on October 26, 2016.
 
Ends/Friday, October 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:50
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