kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
World Justice Project reaffirms Hong Kong's position in the Rule of Law Index
11.3.2020

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (March 11) acknowledged the Rule of Law Index 2020 released by the World Justice Project, in which Hong Kong maintains its ranking as No. 5 in the East Asia and Pacific region and No. 16 globally. In the "Absence of Corruption" category, Hong Kong improved one rank to eighth globally. The effort by Hong Kong in the anti-graft strategy combining law enforcement, corruption prevention and public education would have been futile without our strong adherence to the rule of law and a formidable system of checks and balances including an independent judiciary. Hong Kong also improved one rank in the global rankings of "Civil Justice" and "Criminal Justice", scoring well in "No corruption" and "Impartial and effective ADRs (alternative dispute resolutions)". Hong Kong is always considered a prime venue for international dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. We will continue to make best use of our experience and advantages in these areas to consolidate Hong Kong's position as a leading international deal-making and dispute resolution hub. Hong Kong moved up two ranks, standing at second regionally and globally in the "Order and Security" category. It is worth noting that the overall crime situation in Hong Kong had been on a downward trend for 12 consecutive years. Though the trend reversed in the second half of 2019, with violent protests, the Police are as determined as ever to maintain law and order in Hong Kong. We acknowledged that sentiments in the society might have affected the perceptions of the public and certain parts of the international community on the rule of law in Hong Kong. However, we have to reiterate that our solid foundation of rule of law remains intact and the fundamental rights are well protected by the Basic Law. The turmoil over the past few months has not affected Hong Kong's core competitiveness. Our fundamentals in the rule of law remains strong. To further enhance and strengthen the rule of law, the Department of Justice will launch a 10-year initiative "Vision 2030 for Rule of Law" which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals under the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular, Goal 16, which seeks to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all. The initiative will not only enhance and strengthen the rule of law in Hong Kong, but also promote the rule of law in the region and beyond, so as to enhance development of the rule of law internationally and safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity, stability and sustainable development. The rule of law is a core value of our community. The Government will remain steadfast to uphold the rule of law. We acknowledged that the Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project has clearly and once again reaffirmed Hong Kong's commitment to this core value. Ends/Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:09 NNNN
Public consultation on proposed application of CISG to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region commences
2.3.2020

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (March 2) issued a consultation paper on the proposed application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (referred to as "Proposed Application"). Members of the community are invited to submit their views on the Proposed Application on or before September 30, 2020. The CISG is a treaty which provides a set of uniform rules governing the formation, performance and remedies for breach of contracts for the international sale of goods within its scope. Its purpose is to provide a modern, uniform and fair regime for contracts for the international sale of goods, and through which to contribute to introducing certainty in commercial exchanges and decreasing transaction costs. In particular, the Convention applies to contracts for sale of goods between parties whose places of business are in different Contracting States, subject to the right of the parties to opt out in whole or part of the Convention. The CISG currently has 93 Contracting States, many of which are along the Belt and Road Initiative, from diverse legal traditions and levels of economic development, which together represent over two-thirds of the global economy. For the purpose of gathering and understanding the views of a full range of interested stakeholders on this matter, the DoJ commenced today a public consultation on the Proposed Application. The full set of consultation documents and related information are available on the DoJ's website at www.doj.gov.hk/eng/public/CISG.html . The DoJ welcomes views from the public on the matters raised in the consultation paper. All views (marked "CISG") should be submitted on or before September 30, 2020, to the International Law Division (Treaties & Law Unit) in the following ways: by post, to International Law Division (Treaties & Law Unit), 7/F, Main Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong; by fax at 3918 4791; or by email at [email protected] . Ends/Monday, March 2, 2020 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN
Statement by Department of Justice on prosecutorial decisions
29.2.2020

In response to the arrest of three persons who were charged with offences in relation to criminal intimidation and taking part in an unauthorised assembly, the Department of Justice (DoJ) today (February 29) made the following statement: As the legal proceedings of the persons in question remains ongoing, apart from reiterating basic principles, any substantive comments are considered inappropriate. It is also wholly speculative and totally baseless to suggest that the prosecutorial decisions were made under undue influence. The DoJ makes each prosecutorial decision based on evidence, applicable law and the Prosecution Code. All prosecutorial decisions by the DoJ are made with professionalism, without fear or favour. Prosecutors of the DoJ have always been applying the highest professional standards in handling criminal cases and will not be influenced by any investigatory, political, media, community, or individual interest or representation. All cases will be handled in the same manner irrespective of the political beliefs, requests and background of the persons involved. Article 63 of the Basic Law stipulates that "the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference". In ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the DoJ has all along been discharging the prosecutorial duties fairly in accordance with the above principles. Ends/Saturday, February 29, 2020 Issued at HKT 23:32 NNNN
Public services of DoJ to resume as normal from March 2
28.2.2020

The Department of Justice announced today (February 28) that the public services provided by the department will resume as normal from March 2 with the implementation of targeted measures to reduce social contact and for infection control. The opening hours of the reception counters of the Prosecutions Division and Civil Division, as well as the shroff office of the Civil Division are as follows: * Reception counters Prosecutions Division - 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central Monday to Friday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Civil Division - 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central Monday to Friday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm * Shroff office Civil Division - 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central Monday to Friday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm In order to reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19, a body temperature check has been arranged for all persons, including staff and visitors, entering the Justice Place through any of its entrances. Anyone found to have fever will be advised to refrain from entering the Justice Place. Body temperature measurements may need to be taken more than once when commuting within the premises. Ends/Friday, February 28, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:05 NNNN
Appointments to Law Reform Commission
28.2.2020

The following is issued on behalf of the Law Reform Commission: The Law Reform Commission (LRC) today (February 28) announced that Ms May Chan Suk-mei, Professor Tan Cheng-han and Professor Lutz-Christian Wolff have been appointed by the Chief Executive as new members of the LRC for three years with effect from March 1, 2020. Ms Chan is a veteran journalist and the former Director of News and Public Affairs of Hong Kong Commercial Radio. She is now the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Journalism Education Foundation. Her rich experience in journalism will certainly assist the LRC in expanding its reach in the community. Professor Tan is the Dean of the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore and participated in law reform work in Singapore. Professor Wolff is the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He specialises in international law and has practised and researched in multiple jurisdictions. The LRC believes that the expertise of the two legal scholars will benefit the LRC in law reform. In addition, Ms Alexandra Lo Dak-wai has been reappointed by the Chief Executive as a member of the LRC for a second three-year term with effect from June 1, 2020. The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, who is also the Chairman of the LRC, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the outgoing members, Ms Christine Fang, Professor Christopher Gane and Professor Lin Feng, for their valuable contribution and advice to the LRC over the years. With these latest appointments, the LRC now comprises the following members: Secretary for Justice (Chairman) The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (ex-officio member) The Law Draftsman (ex-officio member) Professor Michael Hor Mr Allan Leung Mr Robert Y H Pang, SC Ms Alexandra Lo Dak-wai Ms Melissa Wu Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung Ms Winnie Tam, SC Ms May Chan Suk-mei Professor Tan Cheng-han Professor Lutz-Christian Wolff Ends/Friday, February 28, 2020 Issued at HKT 11:05 NNNN
Special work arrangements for Department of Justice between February 24 and 28
22.2.2020

To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (February 22) that the department will continue to provide the following basic and essential services next week: * Reception Counters Prosecutions Division - 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 24, 2020 (Monday) to February 28, 2020 (Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Civil Division - 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 24, 2020 (Monday) to February 28, 2020 (Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm * Shroff Office Civil Division - 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 25, 2020 (Tuesday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30 pm Members of the public and the legal profession can continue to serve or submit court documents and other correspondence in matters handled by the two Divisions to the respective counters and make payments to the Shroff Office. While the documents will be processed as quickly as possible, the response time may be longer than usual. Ends/Saturday, February 22, 2020 Issued at HKT 11:57 NNNN
SJ participates in distribution of surgical masks to elderly (with photos)
18.2.2020

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, visited Yuen Long today (February 18) to distribute surgical masks and leaflets with health information to families in need. She also urged members of the public to join hands with the Government to do their best to curb the spread of disease. Joined by social workers from Pok Oi Hospital, Ms Cheng went to Long Shin Estate this afternoon and visited elderly families to learn more about their living conditions. She also distributed surgical masks, food, leaflets with health information and other goods to them. Ms Cheng explained to them that the Government is aware of the difficulties faced by the public in purchasing surgical masks. The surgical masks donated to the Government have been passed to various non-government organisations for distribution to the underprivileged with a view to fighting disease together by keeping the community united. Ms Cheng also appealed to the public to maintain good personal hygiene to effectively prevent the spread of disease. Ends/Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Issued at HKT 19:39 NNNN
Special work arrangements for Department of Justice between February 17 and 21
14.2.2020

To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (February 14) that the department will continue to provide the following basic and essential services next week: * Reception Counters Prosecutions Division - 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 17 to 21, 2020 (Monday to Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Civil Division - 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 17 to 21, 2020 (Monday to Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm * Shroff Office Civil Division - 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 18, 2020 (Tuesday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30 pm Members of the public and the legal profession can continue to serve or submit court documents and other correspondence in matters handled by the two Divisions to the respective counters and make payments to the Shroff Office. While the documents will be processed as quickly as possible, the response time may be longer than usual. Ends/Friday, February 14, 2020 Issued at HKT 15:45 NNNN
Special work arrangements for Department of Justice between February 10 and 14
8.2.2020

To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (February 8) that the department will continue to provide the following basic and essential services next week: * Reception Counters Prosecutions Division - 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 10, 2020 (Monday) to February 14, 2020 (Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Civil Division - 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 10, 2020 (Monday) to February 14, 2020 (Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm * Shroff Office Civil Division - 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 11, 2020 (Tuesday) 9am to 1pm 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 two Divisions to the respective counters 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. Ends/Saturday, February 8, 2020 Issued at HKT 13:47 NNNN
Special work arrangements for Department of Justice between February 3 and 7
2.2.2020

To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government on January 31 to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (February 2) that the department will continue to maintain basic and essential services to the public and legal profession as follows: * Reception Counters Prosecutions Division - 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 3, 2020 (Monday) to February 7, 2020 (Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Civil Division - 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 3, 2020 (Monday) to February 7, 2020 (Friday) 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm * Shroff Office Civil Division - 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central February 4, 2020 (Tuesday) and February 6, 2020 (Thursday) 9am to 1pm 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 two Divisions to the respective counters 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. Ends/Sunday, February 2, 2020 Issued at HKT 13:30 NNNN
Secretary for Justice delivers 45th Alexander Lecture of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (with photos)
16.1.2020

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, today (January 16) delivered the 45th Alexander Lecture of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), entitled "The Search for Order within Chaos in the Evolution of ISDS". The Alexander Lecture was attended by senior practitioners, academics as well as government officials. During the lecture, Ms Cheng first took the audience through the history of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), a subject that is being intensively discussed at various international forums including the Working Group III of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. She then observed the chaos in the current landscape of ISDS reform. In order to find order within chaos, she proposed a "double helix" approach to, on one hand, capitalise on the strength of investment mediation, and, on the other hand, explore the establishment of a well-balanced ISDS appellate mechanism to achieve the high standard of legitimacy expected of ISDS. Ms Cheng said, "It is my great honour to be invited by CIArb in March last year as the first woman to deliver the prestigious Alexander Lecture. Regrettably, the original event had to be postponed due to the assault and the injury I sustained on my way to the event venue in London. I am very thankful to the CIArb for its time and effort to rearrange the event in Hong Kong. I hope that the perspectives in the lecture can contribute to the international discussion on the way forward for ISDS reform." Ends/Thursday, January 16, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:44 NNNN
SJ to attend Greater Bay Area judicial case seminar in Guangzhou
4.1.2020

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, will depart for Guangzhou tomorrow (January 5) to attend a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area judicial case seminar to be held the next day. The seminar will be held for the first time at the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, aiming to implement the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and strengthen the collaborations between the three places, and pursuant to the Framework Arrangement on legal exchange and mutual learning in legal aspects between Hong Kong and Guangdong entered into by the Department of Justice and the High People's Court of Guangdong Province in September 2019. Judges, lawyers, experts and academics from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will take part in the seminar. Mock trials, to be conducted according to different modes of trial in the three places with the same set of case facts, will form the main part of the seminar. It will be concluded by a discussion and exchange session to enhance the participants' understanding of the three legal and judicial systems. Ms Cheng will return to Hong Kong in the evening on January 6. Ends/Saturday, January 4, 2020 Issued at HKT 17:00 NNNN
DoJ responds to criticism against judge
1.1.2020

In response to the vandalism outside the High Court Building and criticism against a judge today (January 1), the Department of Justice issued the following statement: Judicial independence is an essential element of the rule of law. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government respects the freedom of speech of individuals. Members of the public have the right to express their views on court decisions and related matters within the boundary permitted by the law. Personal attacks and insults against judges would severely undermine the authority of the courts and damage public confidence in the judicial system. As pointed out by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal at the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year last year, "... it is no part of a court's function or duty to adjudicate on political or social issues, nor economic ones, whether siding with one extreme or another, or finding some sort of middle ground to solve the community's political, social or economic concerns. Rather, at all times, the court is concerned with dealing with one aspect and one aspect only: a resolution of the legal issues arising in the dispute before it." Any person who is dissatisfied with court decisions may lodge appeals through the excising mechanism and should not criticise judges abusively or impute them of political bias, otherwise, the rule of law in Hong Kong would be undermined. Ends/Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:00 NNNN
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019 to be introduced in LegCo
24.12.2019

The Government will introduce the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019 in the Legislative Council (LegCo) to propose a number of miscellaneous amendments to various Ordinances for the purpose of updating and further improving the relevant legislation. A spokesman for the Department of Justice said today (December 24) that the Bill will be gazetted on December 27, and will then be introduced to the LegCo on January 15, 2020. The major proposed amendments include: (1) To amend the High Court Ordinance (HCO) (Cap. 4) To ensure that all cases are handled as expeditiously as is reasonably practicable, the Judiciary proposes the following amendments to the HCO: (a) To amend section 34B(4) of the HCO to extend the use of a two-Judge bench of the Court of Appeal (CA) (i.e. two-Judge CA) to determine: (i) applications for leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal against the decisions made by the CA consisting of less than three Justices of Appeal; and (ii) appeals against the Court of First Instance's decisions to refuse to grant leave to apply for judicial review or to grant such leave on terms. (b) To amend section 34B(5) of the HCO so that when the two-Judge CA in various types of proceedings cannot reach a unanimous decision, in addition to a party being allowed to apply to re-argue the case before a three-Judge CA, the Court may also make such an order on its own motion. (c) To amend sections 4(2) and 5(2) of the HCO to clarify that an additional judge in the Court of First Instance or the CA has the power to dispose of cases on paper without physically "sitting" in court. (2) To amend the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 1) so that references made to an Ordinance may be made according to the title, short title, citation, number or chapter number used in the verified copies of the Ordinance in addition to those used in copies of the Ordinance printed by the Government Printer. (3) To amend the Chinese text of certain defence provisions containing the phrase "could not with reasonable diligence" to make it explicit that it refers to an objective test based on a hypothetical situation. (4) To amend other miscellaneous and technical amendments, for example, to update the references to the titles of certain Ordinances, achieve consistency in certain expressions and correct other minor errors. Ends/Tuesday, December 24, 2019 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN