### Matrimonial Causes Rules 《婚姻訴訟規則》

117. No notice of intention to proceed after year’s delay
R.H.C. Order 3, rule 6 (which requires a party to give notice of intention to proceed after a year’s delay), shall not apply to any matrimonial proceedings pending in the Court of First Instance.
(25 of 1998 s. 2; E.R. 4 of 2019)

119. Mode of giving notice
Unless otherwise directed, any notice which is required by these rules to be given to any person shall be in writing and, if it is to be given by the registrar, shall be given by post.

120. Procedure on transfer of cause or application
Where any cause or application is ordered to be transferred from one court to another, the registrar of the first-mentioned court shall, unless otherwise directed, give notice of the transfer to the parties and send a copy of the notice and (except in a case to which rule 124(2) applies) the file of the proceedings to the registrar of the other court.

121. Inspection etc. of documents retained in court
(1) A party to any matrimonial proceedings or his solicitor or the Secretary for Justice may have a search made for, and may inspect and bespeak a copy of, any document filed or lodged in the registry in those proceedings. (L.N. 135 of 1972; 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(2) Except as provided by rules 47A(3) and 95(3) and paragraph (1) of this rule, no document filed or lodged in the registry, other than a decree or order made in open court, shall be open to inspection by any person without leave of the court, and no copy of any such document, or of an extract from any such document, shall be taken by, or issued to, any person without such leave. (L.N. 123 of 1974; L.N. 325 of 1982)

122. Practice to be observed in District Court
The Chief Judge and the registrar may issue directions for the purpose of securing in the District Court due observance of statutory requirements and uniformity of practice in matrimonial proceedings.
(L.N. 26 of 2002; 10 of 2005 s. 15)

### Matrimonial Causes Rules 《婚姻訴訟規則》

124. Legitimacy Proceedings
(1) A petition under section 49 of the Ordinance shall, in addition to stating the grounds on which the petitioner relies, set out the date and place of birth of the petitioner and the maiden name of his mother, and, if the petitioner is known by a name other than that which appears in the certificate of his birth, that fact shall be stated in the petition and in any decree made thereon. 
(2) The petition shall be supported by an affidavit by the petitioner verifying the facts of which he has personal knowledge and deposing as to his belief in the truth of the other facts. The affidavit shall be contained in the same document as the petition and shall follow at the foot or end thereof. 
(3) When the petition has been filed, notice of filing shall be given by the petitioner to the Law Officer (Civil Law), who may within 8 days enter an appearance to the petition. 
(4) After the expiration of the time limited for appearance by the Law Officer (Civil Law), the petitioner shall issue and serve upon the Law Officer (Civil Law) an application for directions as to what parties other than the Law Officer (Civil Law) shall be served with the petition. Such application shall be supported by an affidavit setting out particulars of all persons whose interests may be affected by the legitimation of the petitioner, and their relationship to the petitioner. 
(5) The petitioner shall serve the persons directed to be served with a copy of the petition, endorsed with a notice of proceedings in accordance with Form 3, a form of acknowledgment of service in accordance with Form 4. Service shall be effected and proof of service shall be given in the manner provided for by rules 14 and 15 in the case of service of a copy of a petition on a respondent. Such persons on filing an answer shall send a copy of the answer to the petitioner or his solicitor and to the Law Officer (Civil Law). (L.N. 346 of 1982)
(6) The Law Officer (Civil Law) shall, within 14 days after the order for directions has been made, file his answer to the petition and deliver a copy thereof to the petitioner or his solicitor. 
(7) Where it appears that more than one petition has been filed on behalf of petitioners claiming to be children of the same father and mother, the Law Officer (Civil Law) may, on giving notice to the petitioner or his solicitor in each proceeding which it is sought to consolidate, apply at any time after he has entered an appearance for an order that the proceedings be consolidated.
(L.N. 362 of 1997)

### Matrimonial Causes Rules 《婚姻訴訟規則》

126. Transitional provisions
(1) These rules shall apply to matrimonial proceedings which are pending when these rules come into operation, subject to such modifications as in the opinion of the court the circumstances may require. 
(2) (Repealed L.N. 325 of 1982)

126A. Further transitional provisions
(1) These rules, as amended by the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1982 (L.N. 325 of 1982), shall apply to matrimonial proceedings which are pending when the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1982 (L.N. 325 of 1982) come into operation#. 
(2) Any cause begun by petition which is pending in the Court of First Instance and in respect of which the hearing of evidence has not commenced when the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1982 (L.N. 325 of 1982) come into operation# shall be transferred to the District Court, unless any party applies for the cause to be continued in the Court of First Instance. (L.N. 26 of 2002)
(L.N. 325 of 1982; 25 of 1998 s. 2) Editorial Note:

# Commencement date: 1 March 1983. 

126B. Additional transitional provisions
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these rules shall continue to apply to and in relation to proceedings commenced, and orders and decrees made, prior to the commencement# of the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 1986 (L.N. 78 of 1986) (the amending rules

126C. Further additional transitional provisions
Nothing in the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1987 (L.N. 217 of 1987) (the amending rules) shall affect any application for transfer of a cause or application to the Court of First Instance made under these rules before the commencement# of the amending rules and any such application shall be continued and disposed of as if the amending rules had not been made.
(L.N. 217 of 1987; 25 of 1998 s. 2) Editorial Note:

# Commencement date: 10 July 1987.