Consultation on draft Family Procedure Bill on procedural reforms for family justice system launched
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The Judiciary today (February 14) started to consult the public on the draft Family Procedure Bill (FPB). Legal professionals, interested parties and other members of the public are invited to give their views on the draft FPB on procedural reforms for the family justice system during the coming two months till April 13.
"The FPB seeks to legislate for a consolidated set of procedural rules to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the family justice system. The objective is to provide accessible and comprehensive procedural rules for the courts and all court users pursuant to the recommendations in the Judiciary's Final Report on the Review of Family Procedure Rules (Note) published in May 2015," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.
"One of the key proposals to be implemented by the FPB is the adoption of a single unified set of court procedural rules for all family and matrimonial proceedings across the Family Court and the High Court. The FPB will provide for the establishment of a new Family Procedure Rules Committee as the single rule-making authority for family-related court procedures. It will also include a provision to empower the Registrar and Masters of the Family Court to handle certain procedural work on family-related proceedings so as to alleviate the heavy workload of the Judges in the Family Court," the spokesman said.
The FPB will be refined as appropriate in light of the comments received during the consultation before it is introduced to the Legislative Council.
The consultation document is available at the Judiciary's website (www.judiciary.hk/doc/en/other_information/fpr/consultation_doc.pdf). Views can be submitted via:
Email: family_procedure_bill@judiciary.hk
Fax: 2501 4636
Mail: Policy Support Division, Judiciary,
Room 802-808, 8/F, High Block,
Queensway Government Offices,
66 Queensway, Hong Kong
Note: The Final Report on the Review of Family Procedure Rules is available at the Judiciary's website (www.judiciary.hk/doc/en/other_information/fpr/final_report.pdf).
Ends/Monday, February 14, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:25
Issued at HKT 15:25
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