### High Court Ordinance 《高等法院條例》

7. Precedence
(1) The judges of the High Court shall take precedence in the following order—
(a) the Chief Judge of the High Court; (Amended 79 of 1995 s. 50)
(aa) the vice-presidents of the Court of Appeal who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments as vice-presidents; (Added 52 of 1987 s. 6)
(b) the Justices of Appeal (other than vice-presidents), who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments; (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 6)
(c) the judges of the Court of First Instance, who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments;
(ca)  the recorders of the Court of First Instance, who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments:
Provided that, where the Governor is of the opinion that there are sufficient reasons for so doing, he may determine the precedence of recorders irrespective of the priority of their appointments; (Added 80 of 1994 s. 6) 
(d)  deputy judges, who among themselves shall rank according to the priority of their respective appointments:
Provided that, where the Governor is of the opinion that there are sufficient reasons for so doing, he may determine the precedence of deputy judges irrespective of the priority of their appointments. (Amended 49 of 1983 s. 4) 
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) and (c), where the Secretary of State is of the opinion that there are sufficient reasons for so doing, he may determine the precedence of the Justices of Appeal or the judges of the Court of First Instance, as the case may be, irrespective of the priority of their appointments.
(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

### High Court Ordinance 《高等法院條例》

8. Acting appointments
(1) If the office of Chief Judge of the High Court or any Justice of Appeal becomes vacant, by death or otherwise, the Governor may appoint another person, who is eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the High Court under section 9, to act in such office until the vacancy therein is filled.
(2) If the Chief Judge of the High Court or a Justice of Appeal is temporarily ill or absent, the Governor may appoint another person, who is eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the High Court under section 9, to act in his office until he resumes the duties thereof.
(3) Any appointment made under subsection (1) or (2) may be given effect from a date anterior to that of the instrument by which it is made. (Added 80 of 1994 s. 7)
(Amended 52 of 1987 s. 7; 79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

### High Court Ordinance 《高等法院條例》

10. Appointment of deputy judges
(1) The Chief Justice may appoint a person, who is eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the High Court under section 9, to be a deputy judge of the Court of First Instance if— (Amended 44 of 1982 s. 3; 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(a) the office of any judge of the Court of First Instance becomes vacant for any reason; or (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(b) he considers that the interests of the administration of justice require that a deputy judge should be appointed temporarily.
(1A) Subject to subsection (1B), any appointment made under subsection (1) may be given effect from a date anterior to that of the instrument by which it is made. (Added 80 of 1994 s. 8)
(1B) Nothing in subsection (1A) shall be deemed to authorize the discharge of any judicial functions by any person so appointed before the date of the instrument or before the requirements of section 17 of the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance (Cap. 11) have been fulfilled. (Added 80 of 1994 s. 8)
(2) Subject to the terms of his appointment, a deputy judge shall have and may exercise all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges and shall have and perform all the duties of a judge of the Court of First Instance, and any reference in any law to such a judge shall be construed accordingly. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(3) Without prejudice to the powers conferred on him by subsection (1), the Chief Justice may appoint a deputy judge under that subsection—
(a) for the purposes of a specified case or class of cases only; or
(b) for a specified period only.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a deputy judge at any time.
(Amended 49 of 1983 s. 5)

11. Powers of recorders and deputy judges in cases which are part-heard on termination of appointment
If the hearing of any proceedings before a recorder or deputy judge is adjourned or if he reserves judgment in any proceedings, the recorder or deputy judge shall have power to resume the hearing and determine the proceedings or deliver judgment, notwithstanding that his appointment as a recorder or deputy judge has expired or has been terminated.
(Amended 49 of 1983 s. 5; 80 of 1994 s. 9)

### High Court Ordinance 《高等法院條例》

11AA. Interpretation of this section and sections 11A and 11B
In this section and sections 11A and 11B— 
Circular (《通告》) means a Circular issued by the Chief Justice on the details of the retirement age (extension) arrangement for judicial officers engaged on terms that do not attract pension benefits under the Pension Benefits (Judicial Officers) Ordinance (Cap. 401);
judge of the High Court (高等法院法官) means a judge of the High Court (other than a judge appointed under section 8, a recorder and a deputy judge);
retirement age (extension) arrangement (退休年齡(延展)安排) means the arrangements in relation to the extension of the ages of retirement and terms of office for judicial officers as provided by the amendments contained in the Judicial Officers (Extension of Retirement Age) (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 (10 of 2019). 
(Added 10 of 2019 s. 3)