### Court Proceedings (Electronic Technology) Ordinance 《法院程序(電子科技)條例》

14. Documents sent to courts
(1) This section applies in relation to a provision of written law or a direction of a court that—
(a) requires a document sent to a court to be in writing; or
(b) permits a document sent to a court to be in writing.
(2) In relation to an e-proceeding—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if—
(i) the document is sent to an e-Court in electronic form by means of an e-system in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information in the document in electronic form would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—the document may be sent to an e-Court in electronic form if—
(i) it is sent by means of an e-system in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information in the document in electronic form would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.

15. Endorsements, attachments, etc. in electronic form
(1) This section applies in relation to a provision of written law or a direction of a court that—
(a) requires information to be endorsed or recorded on, or attached or annexed to, a document; or
(b) permits information to be endorsed or recorded on, or attached or annexed to, a document.
(2) If the document is used in an e-proceeding and is in electronic form—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if—
(i) the information is incorporated in electronic form into the document or associated electronically with it in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information so incorporated or associated would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—the information may be incorporated in electronic form into the document or associated electronically with it if—
(i) it is so incorporated or associated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information so incorporated or associated would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.
(3) In this section—
information (資料), in relation to a document, includes a note, certificate, statement, acknowledgment, record, matter and another document.

### Court Proceedings (Electronic Technology) Ordinance 《法院程序(電子科技)條例》

16. Service between parties
(1) This section applies in relation to a provision of written law or a direction of a court that—
(a) requires a document served by a person on another person to be in writing; or
(b) permits a document served by a person on another person to be in writing.
(2) In relation to an e-proceeding—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if—
(i) the document is served in electronic form in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information in the document in electronic form would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—the document may be served in electronic form if—
(i) it is served in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information in the document in electronic form would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.
(3) To avoid doubt, this section does not apply in relation to a provision of written law or a direction of a court that requires or permits a document served by or on a court to be in writing.

17. Authentication of documents created, issued or sent by courts
(1) This section applies in relation to a document created, issued or sent by a court that a provision of written law or a direction of a court—
(a) requires to be signed, sealed or certified; or
(b) permits to be signed, sealed or certified.
(2) If the document is created, issued or sent by an e-Court in electronic form by means of an e-system in relation to an e-proceeding—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if the document is authenticated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—the document may be authenticated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions.

18. Authentication of documents sent to courts
(1) This section applies in relation to a document sent to a court that a provision of written law or a direction of a court—
(a) requires to be signed; or
(b) permits to be signed.
(2) If the document is sent to an e-Court in electronic form by means of an e-system in relation to an e-proceeding—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if the document is authenticated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—the document may be authenticated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions.

### Court Proceedings (Electronic Technology) Ordinance 《法院程序(電子科技)條例》

19. Authentication of documents served by or on parties
(1) This section applies in relation to a document served by a person on another person that a provision of written law or a direction of a court—
(a) requires to be signed; or
(b) permits to be signed.
(2) If the document is served in electronic form in relation to an e-proceeding—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if the document is authenticated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—the document may be authenticated in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions.

20. Electronic copies of original or certified documents
(1) This section applies in relation to a provision of written law or a direction of a court that—
(a) requires an original or a certified document to be sent to a court; or
(b) permits an original or a certified document to be sent to a court.
(2) In relation to an e-proceeding—
(a) for subsection (1)(a)—the requirement is met if—
(i) a copy of the document is sent to an e-Court in electronic form by means of an e-system in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information in the copy in electronic form would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
(b) for subsection (1)(b)—a copy of the document may be sent to an e-Court in electronic form if—
(i) it is sent by means of an e-system in accordance with any applicable e-rules and e-practice directions; and
(ii) at the relevant time it was reasonable to expect that the information in the copy in electronic form would be accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.