kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
SJ distributes anti-epidemic service bags in San Po Kong (with photos/video)
2.4.2022

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, distributed anti-epidemic service bags to households in San Po Kong today (April 2) to raise the awareness of epidemic prevention among the community and step up anti-epidemic efforts. She urged members of the public to continue fighting the virus together. Joined by the District Officer (Wong Tai Sin), Mr Steve Wong, and the secretary of the East Kowloon District Residents' Committee, Ms Wendy Lui, Ms Cheng and volunteers from a district organisation distributed anti-epidemic service bags to the property management company of a housing estate. She also visited a single elderly person and an ethnic minority family to learn more about their living conditions and challenges they faced under the epidemic. Ms Cheng hoped that the Government's anti-epidemic service bags could support their anti-epidemic needs. "The pandemic has considerably driven up the public's demand for support services, making volunteers our indispensable partner in carrying out anti-epidemic work. I am very grateful for their dedication and selfless devotion in serving society's needy groups. The Government has joined hands with different sectors of the community in delivering the service bags to ensure ample supplies for every citizen, fully demonstrating our unity in overcoming challenges. It also strengthens social cohesion which is conducive to the anti-epidemic work," said Ms Cheng. "With the staunch support from our motherland, coupled with our concerted efforts, I have every confidence that Hong Kong will be able to ride out the storm soon so that our people could resume their normal lives," Ms Cheng added. Ends/Saturday, April 2, 2022 Issued at HKT 16:44 NNNN
SJ signs MoU on Legal Talent Recruitment Scheme (Trainee Solicitors) 2022 with Law Society (with photos)
28.3.2022

Riding on the successful launch of the Legal Talent Recruitment Scheme (Trainee Solicitors) in July 2021, the second round of the Scheme (the Legal Talent Scheme 2022) will be open for application on April 11 for six months. The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, signed a memorandum of understanding with the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong (Law Society), Mr Chan Chak-ming, on the administration of the Legal Talent Scheme 2022 today (March 28). Funded by the Anti-epidemic Fund, the Legal Talent Scheme 2022 will continue to provide a monthly salary subsidy of $6,800 for a maximum of 12 months to each eligible law firm for one newly created job opening for a trainee solicitor, with up to 130 new job openings for trainee solicitors in total. The Legal Talent Scheme 2022 will create more new job opportunities during the time of the pandemic, and at the same time ensure a steady and sufficient supply of legal talent in alignment with Government's policy objectives. The Law Society will be responsible for administering the Legal Talent Scheme 2022, including processing and assessing the applications, as well as arranging disbursement of the subsidy. Ms Cheng said she was pleased to note that the Scheme launched last year had been well received by the industry. She expressed her gratitude to the Law Society for its continuous support for the Scheme, which will help nurture Hong Kong's young professionals and benefit the legal sector in general. For more details on the Legal Talent Scheme 2022, please visit the homepage of the Law Society . Ends/Monday, March 28, 2022 Issued at HKT 17:16 NNNN
Legislative amendments for implementation of outcome related fee structures for arbitration
23.3.2022

The Government will introduce legislative amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) and the Legal Practitioners Ordinance (Cap. 159), in order to provide that certain agreements using outcome related fee structures for arbitration (ORFSA) are not prohibited by the common law doctrines of maintenance, champerty and barratry, to provide for the validity and enforceability of such agreements and to provide for measures and safeguards in relation to such agreements. The proposed ORFSA regime will only be applicable to arbitration and related court proceedings. A spokesman for the Department of Justice (DoJ) today (March 23) said, "ORFSA allows that conditional fee agreements, damages-based agreements or hybrid damages-based agreements may be made between a lawyer and the client. At present, these are not applicable in Hong Kong but similar arrangements are permitted in other major arbitral seats. Hence, the introduction of ORFSA in Hong Kong can actively respond to the expectations of arbitration parties for flexible fee arrangements, enhance access to justice and enable Hong Kong's arbitration services to advance with the times. This will help attract more parties to choose Hong Kong as a seat of arbitration as well as use the legal services in Hong Kong." In the context of arbitration, clients are normally commercial entities or business people who are familiar with negotiating commercial terms and related pricing for those services. They are generally free to seat their arbitrations anywhere in the world and have significant demand for flexible fee arrangements. Implementing ORFSA is in the best interest of Hong Kong, reinforcing the city's status as one of the world's leading arbitral seats. The proposed legislative amendments were formulated on the basis of the recommendations made in the Report on Outcome Related Fee Structures for Arbitration published by the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong last December following a three-month public consultation. The proposed amendments in relation to ORFSA do not apply to personal injuries claims. The Advisory Committee on Promotion of Arbitration expressed its support to the recommendations. The DoJ, having given careful and thorough considerations, decided to adopt the recommendations and took forward the legislative amendments. The Arbitration and Legal Practitioners Legislation (Outcome Related Fee Structures for Arbitration) (Amendment) Bill 2022 will be gazetted this Friday (March 25) and introduced into the Legislative Council on March 30. Ends/Wednesday, March 23, 2022 Issued at HKT 18:00 NNNN
Post-1990 electronic gazette copies available on Hong Kong e-Legislation
18.3.2022

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has implemented a project to back capture printed gazettes published before 2000 to facilitate the access to as-made legislation. Over 7 500 electronic copies of Legal Supplements and selected Supplements to the Hong Kong Government Gazette published between 1990 to 1999 are now included in the Hong Kong e-Legislation (HKeL) for public access. The e-gazette database under the HKeL covers Legal Supplements No. 1 (Ordinances), No. 2 (Subsidiary Legislation, etc), No. 3 (Bills) and No. 7 (Authentic Chinese Texts) as well as Supplement No. 6 (Private Bills only). Users can obtain and download their electronic copies through www.elegislation.gov.hk/gazette . In addition, the electronic copies are also accessible through hyperlinks under the enactment history of a chapter and under the source notes of individual provisions when viewing legislation under the HKeL. The initiative is to make research into pre-2000 gazettes more convenient, as previously they are only available in printed version and are only accessible in the Hong Kong Central Library. "It is hoped that the expanded e-gazette database would facilitate academic, legal and policy researches," a DoJ spokesperson said today (March 18). The DoJ will continue to implement the project by phases to cover further past gazettes published before 1990 in the forthcoming years. Ends/Friday, March 18, 2022 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN
Special work arrangements for Department of Justice between March 9 and April 11
8.3.2022

The Department of Justice announced today (March 8) that, from March 9 to April 11, the opening hours of the following public services will be adjusted as follows: * Reception Counter Civil Division - 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central Monday to Friday 9am to noon and 2pm to 4.30pm * Shroff Office Civil Division - 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central Every Tuesday and Thursday 9am to noon and 2pm to 4.30pm Members of the public and the legal profession can continue to serve or submit court documents and other correspondence in matters handled by the Civil Division to the counter and make payment to the Shroff Office. While the documents will be processed as quickly as possible, the response time may be longer than usual. The opening hours of the Prosecutions Division's reception counter will remain unchanged. Ends/Tuesday, March 8, 2022 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN
Hong Kong Legal Cloud services officially launched today
1.3.2022

The Hong Kong Legal Cloud services was launched today (March 1) to provide safe, secure and affordable data storage services for the local legal and dispute resolution sectors, thereby enhancing the capability of the profession to harness modern technology in the provision of relevant services. The Hong Kong Legal Cloud is an advanced and user-friendly online facility situated in Hong Kong. All the information will be stored in the cloud servers hosted locally. Relevant services will be provided by the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre, a non-profit making organisation. In addition to providing funding support for the sectors under the Anti-epidemic Fund to upgrade information technology systems and promote online dispute resolution services, the Department of Justice (DoJ) also set up the Hong Kong Legal Cloud Fund to subsidise eligible local legal and dispute resolution professionals for free subscription to the Hong Kong Legal Cloud services for up to three years. The Hong Kong Legal Cloud Fund, administered by the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL) on a pro bono basis, will finance the setup cost and initial operational and promotion costs through disbursement of the actual subscription fees as incurred by eligible subscribers to the service provider. The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, highlighted that the use of technology in the provision of legal services is an important area of development. As set out in the 2020 Policy Address, the DoJ is tasked with actively promoting the development of the Hong Kong Legal Cloud, an online facility equipped with advanced information security technology, to provide safe, secure and affordable data storage services for the local legal and dispute resolution industries, so as to promote the long-term development of Hong Kong's overall legal and dispute resolution services. Ms Cheng also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the eBRAM and the AAIL for supporting the department's lawtech initiatives, and enabling the sector to make use of lawtech to better adapt to the new normal under the pandemic. For more details on the Hong Kong Legal Cloud, please visit the department's webpage and the Hong Kong Legal Cloud Portal designated website . Ends/Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Issued at HKT 12:13 NNNN
New milestone for legal regulatory interface in GBA
28.2.2022

In light of the signing of the interim measures arrangement between the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, made the following statement today (February 28): The Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR signed an interim measures arrangement in 2019. I am pleased to learn that the SPC also signed the arrangement with the Macao SAR. Parties to arbitral proceedings, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, are allowed to apply to courts in the Mainland and Macao for interim measures as and where necessary. This not only enhances the function of arbitration in resolving cross-border disputes, but also marks a new milestone for legal regulatory interface in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It is in the interest of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to review the existing arrangements on bilateral mutual legal assistance so that efforts can be made to promote negotiation in respect of those with little difference to extend the arrangements to other parties, with a view to reaching a tripartite legal assistance arrangement in civil and commercial matters. The GBA has unique advantages under "one country, two systems and three jurisdictions" in the GBA. It is essential to promote the legal regulatory interface and connectivity among the three places as well as facilitate the harmonisation of the laws of the three jurisdictions. In the long term, the three places should endeavour to promulgate a set of unified standards of best practices in the common legal aspects and model law applicable to the GBA, thereby facilitating the convergence of legal regulatory interface and rules in order to achieve co-ordinated development. Ends/Monday, February 28, 2022 Issued at HKT 18:58 NNNN
Matrimonial and Family Arrangement between Mainland and Hong Kong comes into operation
15.2.2022

The Mainland Judgments in Matrimonial and Family Cases (Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 639) (Ordinance) and the "Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Civil Judgments in Matrimonial and Family Cases by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)" (Matrimonial and Family Arrangement) came into operation today (February 15). Under the new mechanism of the Matrimonial and Family Arrangement, the courts of the two places may recognise and enforce reciprocally effective civil judgments in matrimonial and family cases that are made by the courts of the other place and are covered by the Matrimonial and Family Arrangement. This reduces the need for parties to re-litigate the same dispute in the Mainland and Hong Kong courts respectively, thereby saving their time and costs, as well as relieving their emotional distress. It also allows parties convenient and timely access to effective judicial relief, with their rights better protected. The Ordinance was enacted for the purpose of implementing the Matrimonial and Family Arrangement in the HKSAR through local legislation. The new mechanism applies to judgments given by Hong Kong or Mainland courts from today onwards in cases covered by the Matrimonial and Family Arrangement and also to divorce certificates issued from today onwards by a civil affairs department in the Mainland. The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, remarked, "Under the principle of 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong and the Mainland have established an effective system for mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters. Today, we witness together the coming into operation of the Matrimonial and Family Arrangement. The Matrimonial and Family Arrangement signifies a new milestone in mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters between the two places. It also represents another innovative initiative that adheres to the upholding of the principle of 'one country' while leveraging the advantages of 'two systems'." The Supreme People's Court and the Department of Justice (DoJ) co-organised a webinar on "New Mechanism for Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement in Matrimonial and Family Cases between the Courts of Mainland and the HKSAR" today to explain the Matrimonial and Family Arrangement as well as the Ordinance, including the applicable rules, specific procedures, etc. Members of the public may also read the promotional leaflet on the Ordinance for more details. The DoJ will host another seminar on cross-boundary family mediation tomorrow (February 16). Please visit the relevant website for registration. Ends/Tuesday, February 15, 2022 Issued at HKT 18:01 NNNN
Members of public reminded to stay alert to fraudulent email purportedly issued by Department of Justice
14.2.2022

The Department of Justice today (February 14) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to a fraudulent email claimed to have been sent by "Ms. AU Kit Yuk, Katy, Sr Psl Asst to Secy for Justice" under the email account "kit.yuk@gov.hk" with a suspected link to a malicious file. The department has no connection with the fraudulent email and has reported the case to the Police for further investigation. Members of the public are reminded not to open any suspicious email. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email sender or clicked the link in the email is advised to contact the Police. Ends/Monday, February 14, 2022 Issued at HKT 18:12 NNNN
DoJ staff member preliminarily tests positive for COVID-19
8.2.2022

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (February 8) said that a personal secretary has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member concerned, who works on the seventh floor of the Main Wing of Justice Place, does not have contact with the public in her daily work. She last went to work on January 31. She has been wearing face masks while performing duties in the office and observed other disease prevention measures. The DoJ has conducted thorough cleaning and disinfection operations at the workplace concerned. Colleagues who had contact with the staff member concerned have already undergone COVID-19 testing according to the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and will work from home while waiting for the results. The DoJ will continue to strictly implement various disease prevention measures. Staff members are also reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant at all times. They should seek medical advice immediately if they feel unwell and inform the department accordingly. Ends/Tuesday, February 8, 2022 Issued at HKT 20:52 NNNN
Department of Justice alerts public to fraudulent email
18.1.2022

The Department of Justice today (January 18) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to a fraudulent email claimed to have been sent by "Ms. Teresa Cheng, GBM, GBS, SC, JP, Secetary to The Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung GBM" with a suspected link to a malicious file. The department has no connection with the fraudulent email and has reported the case to the Police for further investigation. Members of the public are reminded not to open any suspicious email. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email sender or clicked the link in the email is advised to contact the Police. Ends/Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Issued at HKT 18:37 NNNN
Department of Justice alerts public to fraudulent email
7.1.2022

The Department of Justice today (January 7) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to a fraudulent email claimed to have been sent by "York Chow, Secretary to Ms Teresa Cheng" with a suspected link to a malicious file. A report has been made to the Police. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email sender or clicked the link in the email is advised to contact the Police. Ends/Friday, January 7, 2022 Issued at HKT 10:47 NNNN
Reappointment to Law Reform Commission
31.12.2021

The following is issued on behalf of the Law Reform Commission: The Law Reform Commission (LRC) today (December 31) announced that Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, SC, has been reappointed by the Chief Executive as a member of the LRC for a second three-year term with effect from January 1, 2022. First appointed to the LRC on January 1, 2019, Ms Tam has broad experience in intellectual property law and cross-border cases. She has also been active in public service and her work is widely acclaimed. The LRC expresses its appreciation to Ms Tam for her valuable contributions to the LRC's work over the past three years and believes that Ms Tam's professional eminence will continue to benefit the work of law reform in Hong Kong. With this latest reappointment, the LRC comprises the following members: Secretary for Justice (Chairman) Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (ex officio member) Law Draftsman (ex officio member) Mr Justice Johnson Lam Man-hon Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, SC Ms May Chan Suk-mei Professor Tan Cheng-han Professor Lutz-Christian Wolff Professor Fu Hualing Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun Mrs Janice Choi Kwan Wing-kum Mr Chan Chak-ming Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May-yee Ends/Friday, December 31, 2021 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN
Combined DoJ Chinese-English Glossary of Legal Terms launched
30.12.2021

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (December 30) launched the Combined DoJ Chinese-English Glossary of Legal Terms (Combined C-E Glossary), following the launch of the Combined DoJ English-Chinese Glossary of Legal Terms (Combined E-C Glossary) in September, to continue to promote the development of legal bilingualism in Hong Kong. Each of the combined glossaries ( www.glossary.doj.gov.hk ) consists of six glossaries prepared by the Civil Division, the Constitutional and Policy Affairs Division, the International Law Division, the Law Drafting Division, the Law Reform Commission Secretariat and the Prosecutions Division, with more than 60 000 entries which are legal terms commonly used in Hong Kong sourced from Hong Kong legislation, judicial authorities and other legal publications. For users' convenience, both combined glossaries are hosted on the same website and share the same search engine. The webpage will automatically switch between the Combined E-C Glossary and the Combined C-E Glossary depending on whether the user searches an English or Chinese keyword. "It is hoped that the combined glossaries can facilitate legal translation work and also promote the broader use of Chinese in the legal field in Hong Kong," a DoJ spokesperson said. The existing "English-Chinese Glossary" and "Chinese-English Glossary" on the Hong Kong e-Legislation website will discontinue service in due course. Ends/Thursday, December 30, 2021 Issued at HKT 12:00 NNNN
GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice officially released
30.12.2021

The GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice, endorsed by the third Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference on December 10, were officially released and came into effect today (December 30). The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) comprises three different legal systems of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The mediation models, systems and development are also different among the three places. The promulgation of a set of unified accreditation standards and code of conduct best practice for mediators in the GBA is a major milestone in the building of the rule of law in the GBA and Hong Kong's integration into the GBA development. It will also foster the professional development of the mediators in the GBA, thereby enhancing the confidence of mediation users within the GBA. Enacted and published by the GBA Mediation Platform, the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards will be implemented by the legal departments of the three places when formulating their accreditation rules, while the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice will serve as a reference and basis for the GBA mediation institutions when developing their respective standards of professional code of conduct in detail, having regard to their actual circumstances and operational needs. The English cursory translation of the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice can be viewed on the Department of Justice's website . Ends/Thursday, December 30, 2021 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN