Public consultation launch on draft courts remote hearing bill

The Judiciary launched a three-month public consultation on the draft Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill. Legal professionals, interested parties and members of the public are invited to offer their views on the draft Bill by September 15.

The major features of the Bill include details of the making of a remote hearing order, including safeguards for parties to ensure the fair disposal of remote hearings; operation and legal effect of remote hearings; safeguards for open justice in remote hearings; and proposed new offences for the recording and publishing of remote and physical court hearings, as well as the broadcast of such hearings.

"The Bill seeks to provide a comprehensive legal framework concerning the application, operation and effect of remote hearings for court proceedings in Hong Kong. It provides a clear legal basis for Judges and Judicial Officers to order remote hearings at various levels of courts and tribunals where appropriate, having regard to all relevant factors, as well as the dual requirements of open justice and fair hearing," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.

To illustrate how the Bill will operate upon enactment, the Judiciary has also prepared the draft Practice Directions and the draft Operational Guidelines, which set out the administrative and operational details for the conduct of remote hearing.

The draft Bill, draft Practice Directions and draft Operational Guidelines will be refined in light of the comments received during the consultation as appropriate before it is introduced to the Legislative Council.