High Court Ordinance (Chapter 4), Hong Kong, China, WIPO Lex

Main text(s)

Chinese 高等法院條例(第4章)

English High Court Ordinance (Chapter 4)

Chapter: 4 HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

Chapter:	4	HIGH COURT ORDINANCE	Gazette Number	Version Date

		Long title	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

HIGH COURT (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

To amend and consolidate the law relating to the constitution, jurisdiction, practice and powers of the High Court and the administration of justice therein and for matters ancillary thereto and connected therewith. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

[20 February 1976] L.N. 50 of 1976

(Originally 92 of 1975)

Section:	1	Short title	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks: Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2 PART I PRELIMINARY This Ordinance may be cited as the High Court Ordinance. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	2	Interpretation	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires

"action" (訴訟) means a civil proceeding commenced by writ of summons or in such other manner as may be prescribed by any law;

"appeal" (上訴) in the context of appeals to the Court of Appeal in its civil jurisdiction includes-

(a) an application for a new trial; and

(b) an application to set aside a verdict, finding or judgment in any cause or matter in the Court of First Instance which has been tried, or in which any issue has been tried, by a jury; (Added 52 of 1987 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"cause" (訟案) means any action or any criminal proceeding; (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 2)

"Court of First Instance" (原訟法庭) means the Court of first Instance of the High Court; (Added 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"defendant" (被告人) includes any person served with any writ of summons or process, or served with notice of, or entitled to attend, any proceedings;

"detention" (羈留) includes every form of restraint of liberty of the person; (Added 95 of 1997 s. 2)

"deputy judge" (暫委法官) means a deputy judge of the Court of First Instance appointed under section 10(1); (Added 49 of 1983 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"Government stock" (政府證券) means any stock issued by the Government or any funds of or annuity granted by the Government; (Added 52 of 1987 s. 2)

"judgment" (判決) includes decree;

"Justice of Appeal" (上訴法庭法官) includes a judge of the Court of First Instance sitting as an additional judge of

the Court of Appeal under section 5(2); (Added 52 of 1987 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) "land" (土地) includes-

(a) land covered by water;

(b) any estate, right, interest or easement in or over any land; and

(c) things attached to land or permanently fastened to anything attached to land; (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 2) "Master" (聆案官) has the meaning given to it by sections 37, 37AC, 37A and 37B; (Added 52 of 1987 s. 2. Amended 1 of 1997 s. 3; 10 of 2005 s. 164) "matter" (事宜) includes every proceeding not in a cause; "party" (一方、方) includes every person served with notice of or attending any proceeding, although not named on the record;

"plaintiff" (原告人) includes every person asking any relief (otherwise than by way of counter-claim as a defendant) against any other person by any form of proceeding, whether the proceeding is by action, suit, petition, motion, summons or otherwise;

"prescribed" (訂明) means prescribed by rules of court;

"recorder" (特委法官) means a recorder of the Court of First Instance appointed under section 6A; (Added 80 of 1994 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"Registrar" (司法常務官) means the Registrar of the High Court; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"Registry" (登記處) means any Registry of the High Court; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"writ of habeas corpus" (人身保護令狀) means a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum. (Added 95 of 1997 s. 2)

(Amended 49 of 1983 s. 2; 95 of 1997 s. 2; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

PART II

THE HIGH COURT (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(1) There shall be a High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region consisting of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the High Court shall be a court of unlimited civil and criminal

jurisdiction. (Replaced 110 of 1997 s. 8)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The Court of First Instance shall consist of-

(a) the Chief Judge of the High Court; (Amended 79 of 1995 s. 50)

(b) such judges as the Governor may appoint; (Amended 80 of 1994 s. 3)
(ba) such recorders as the Governor may appoint; and (Added 80 of 1994 s. 3)

(2) A Justice of Appeal may sit in the Court of First Instance and act as a judge thereof whenever the business of the Court of First Instance so requires, in which case he shall have all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of such a judge.

(3) (Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 4)

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	5	Constitution of Court of Appeal	79 of 1995; 25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The Court of Appeal shall consist of-

(a): the Chief Judge of the High Court; and
(b): such Justices of Appeal as the Governor may appoint.

(1A) The Chief Judge of the High Court may appoint one or more of the Justices of Appeal as vice-presidents of the Court of Appeal. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 5)

(2) A judge of the Court of First Instance may, on the request of the Chief Justice, sit as an additional judge of the Court of Appeal, in which case he shall have all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of a judge of the Court of Appeal.

(3) The Chief Judge of the High Court shall be the president of the Court of Appeal and, in his absence for any

cause, the presidency shall be determined in accordance with the order of precedence prescribed in section 7. (Amended 79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	6	Appointment of judges	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) A judge of the High Court, other than- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a): a judge appointed under section 8(1) or (2); (Amended 80 of 1994 s. 4)
(aa) a recorder; (Added 80 of 1994 s. 4. Amended 26 of 1997 s. 2)
(b): a deputy judge; and (Amended 49 of 1983 s. 3; 26 of 1997 s. 2)

(c) a judge appointed under section 11A(3)(a), (Added 26 of 1997 s. 2) shall be appointed by Letters Patent under the Public Seal by the Governor, in accordance with such instructions as the Governor may receive through a Secretary of State.

(2) (Repealed 80 of 1994 s. 4)

Section:	6A	Appointment of recorders	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(3): A recorder 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.

(Added 80 of 1994 s. 5. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	6B	Appointment of judges and recorders may be retrospective	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Cap 4 - HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

(1): Subject to subsection (2), any appointment made under section 6(1) or 6A(1) may be given effect from a date anterior to that of the Letters Patent by which it is made.
(2): Nothing in subsection (1) shall be deemed to authorize the discharge of any judicial functions by any person so appointed before the date of the Letters Patent or before the requirements of section 17 of the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance (Cap 11) have been fulfilled.

(Added 80 of 1994 s. 5)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The judges of the High Court shall take precedence in the following order-

(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)
(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)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(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)

(1) A person shall be eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the High Court if- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a) he is qualified to practise as a barrister or advocate in a court in Hong Kong or any other common law jurisdiction having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal matters; or (Amended 14 of 1997

s. 2)

(b): he is qualified as mentioned in paragraph (a) and prior thereto was qualified to practise as a solicitor in such a court, and, in either case, he has for at least 10 years practised as a barrister, solicitor or advocate in such a court.

(2): A person shall also be eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the High Court if- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

and, in either case, he has, subject to subsection (3), for at least 10 years(i)-(iii) (Repealed 14 of 1997 s. 2)

(iv) been a District Judge appointed in accordance with section 4 or 7 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336); (iva) been the Registrar of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal appointed in accordance with section 42 of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484); (Added 10 of 2005 s. 132) (ivb) been the Registrar or a senior deputy registrar, deputy registrar or assistant registrar appointed in accordance with section 37; (Added 10 of 2005 s. 132)

(ivc) been the Registrar of the District Court or a deputy registrar or assistant registrar of the District Court, appointed in accordance with section 14 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336); (Added 10 of 2005 s. 132)

(vi): been a legal officer as defined in section 2 of the Legal Officers Ordinance (Cap 87);

(vii) (Repealed 8 of 1993 s. 6)

(viii) been the Director of Legal Aid or a Deputy Director of Legal Aid, Assistant Director of Legal Aid or Legal Aid Officer, appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91); (Added 50 of 1976 s. 2. Amended 24 of 1983 s. 7; 39 of 1992 s. 8; 60 of 1992 s. 3)

(ix): been the Official Receiver or an Assistant Official Receiver (Legal), Assistant Principal Solicitor, Senior Solicitor or Solicitor, appointed in accordance with section 75 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap 6); or (Added 39 of 1992 s. 8. Amended 60 of 1992 s. 3; 68 of 1995 s. 17)
(x): been the Director of Intellectual Property or a Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Assistant Director of Intellectual Property, Senior Solicitor or Solicitor, appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Director of Intellectual Property (Establishment) Ordinance (Cap 412). (Added 60 of 1992 s. 3)

(2A) A person shall also be eligible to be appointed to be a judge of the High Court if- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a): he is a solicitor of a court in Hong Kong or any other common law jurisdiction having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal matters; (Amended 14 of 1997 s. 2)
(b): he is and has been for the previous 2 years at least, and in aggregate for at least 5 years, employed in the service of the Crown in Hong Kong on judicial or legal work; and

(3): For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 years referred to in subsection (2), periods of less than 10 years falling within any of paragraphs (iv) to (x) of that subsection may be combined, and there may be included in such period, any period of practice as a barrister, solicitor or advocate in any of the courts referred to in subsection (2)(a). (Amended 50 of 1976 s. 2; 39 of 1992 s. 8; 60 of 1992 s. 3; 14 of 1997 s. 2)
(4): For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 years referred to in subsection (2A)(c) there may be included any period of less than 10 years falling within any of paragraphs (iv) to (x) of subsection (2), and periods of less than 10 years falling within subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of subsection (2A)(c) may be combined. (Added 44 of 1982 s. 2. Amended 39 of 1992 s. 8; 60 of 1992 s. 3; 14 of 1997 s. 2)
(5): For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 years under subsection (2), periods served in an office specified in Part I of the First Schedule to the repealed Registrar General (Establishment) Ordinance (Cap 100) may be taken into account notwithstanding the repeal of that Ordinance. (Added 8 of 1993 s. 6)

(Amended 10 of 2005 s. 132)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(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)

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a deputy judge at any

time. (Amended 49 of 1983 s. 5)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

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. 11)

Section:	11A	Term of office of judges	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) A judge of the High Court shall vacate his office when he attains the retiring age.

(2) Notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the retiring age, a person holding the office of a judge of the High Court may continue in office for so long after attaining the retiring age as may be necessary to enable him to deliver judgment or to do any other thing in relation to proceedings that were commenced before him before he attained that age.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1)

(a) a person may be appointed to be a judge of the High Court (whatever his age and whether or not he has previously held office as such) for a specified period or periods not exceeding 5 years in the aggregate by the Governor acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; and

(b) the term of office of a judge of the High Court (other than a person appointed to be a judge under paragraph (a)) may be extended for a specified period or periods not exceeding 5 years in the aggregate by the Governor acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission,

and in any such case the judge shall accordingly be regarded as having attained the retiring age at the expiration of the specified period or periods.

(4) A judge of the High Court may at any time resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the Governor.

(5) In this section-"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(1) or (2), a recorder and a deputy judge;

"retiring age" (退休年齡) means the age of 65 years. (Added 26 of 1997 s. 3. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	12	Jurisdiction of Court of First Instance	L.N. 29 of 1999	01/02/1999

PART III

JURISDICTION, LAW, PRACTICE AND POWERS

(1) The Court of First Instance shall be a superior court of record.; (4) (Repealed 81 of 1997 s. 59) (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	12A	Admiralty jurisdiction of Court of First Instance	L.N. 235 of 2009	22/01/2010

owners, charterers or persons in possession or control of a ship are responsible, being an act, neglect or default in the navigation or management of the ship, in the loading, carriage or discharge of goods on, in or from the ship, or in the embarkation, carriage or disembarkation of persons on, in or from the ship;

(g): any claim for loss of or damage to goods carried in a ship;
(h): any claim arising out of any agreement relating to the carriage of goods in a ship or to the use or hire of a ship;
(j): any claim in the nature of towage in respect of a ship or an aircraft;
(k): any claim in the nature of pilotage in respect of a ship or an aircraft;
(l): any claim in respect of goods or materials supplied to a ship for her operation or maintenance;
(m): any claim in respect of the construction, repair or equipment of a ship or in respect of dock charges or dues;
(n): any claim by a master or member of the crew of a ship for wages (including any sum allotted out of wages or adjudged by a superintendent to be due by way of wages);
(o): any claim by a master, shipper, charterer or agent in respect of disbursements made on account of a ship;
(p): any claim arising out of an act which is or is claimed to be a general average act;
(q): any claim arising out of bottomry;
(r): any claim for the forfeiture or condemnation of a ship or of goods which are being or have been carried, or have been attempted to be carried, in a ship, or for the restoration of a ship or any such goods after seizure, or for droits of Admiralty;
(s): any claim arising under section 7 of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance (Cap 413). (Replaced 37 of 1990 s. 12(2))

(3) The proceedings referred to in subsection (1)(b) are-

(a): any application to the Court of First Instance under- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(b): any action to enforce a claim for damage, loss of life or personal injury arising out of-

(i) the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1979* in their application to Hong Kong;

(ii) (Repealed 24 of 2005 s. 55)

(iii) the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap 369); (Amended 55 of 1993 s. 30)

(iv) the Merchant Shipping (Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution) Ordinance (Cap 414); (Amended 55 of 1993 s. 30; 24 of 2005 s. 55)

(v) the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) Ordinance (Cap 434); (Added 55 of 1993 s. 30. Amended 24 of 2005 s. 55; 14 of 2009 s. 34)

(vi) the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap 548); or (Added 24 of 2005 s. 55. Amended 14 of 2009 s. 34)

(vii) the Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability and Compensation) Ordinance (Cap 605), (Added 14 of 2009

s. 34) for the limitation of the amount of their liability in connection with a ship or other property. (Replaced 38 of 1990 Sch. 2)

(4) The jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance under subsection (2)(b) includes power to settle any account outstanding and unsettled between the parties in relation to the ship, and to direct that the ship, or any share thereof, shall be sold, and to make such other order as the court thinks fit. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(5) Subsection (2)(e) extends to-

(a) any claim in respect of a liability incurred under Part II of the Merchant Shipping (Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution) Ordinance (Cap 414); (Amended 14 of 2009 s. 34)

(b) any claim in respect of a liability incurred by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund under Part III of that Ordinance; and (Replaced 38 of 1990 Sch. 2. Amended 14 of 2009 s. 34)

(c) any claim in respect of a liability incurred under section 5 of the Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability and Compensation) Ordinance (Cap 605). (Added 14 of 2009 s. 34)

(6) In subsection (2)(i)-

(a) the "Salvage Convention 1989" (1989年救助公約) means the International Convention on Salvage 1989 as it has effect under section 9 of the Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Ordinance (Cap 508);

(b) the reference to salvage services includes services rendered in saving life from a ship and the reference to any claim under any contract for or in relation to salvage services includes any claim arising out of such a contract whether or not arising during the provision of the services;

(c) the reference to a corresponding claim in connection with an aircraft is a reference to any claim corresponding to any claim mentioned in subsection (2)(i)(i) or (ii) which is available under section 9 of the Civil Aviation Ordinance (Cap 448). (Replaced 35 of 1997 s. 9)

(7) Subsections (1) to (6) apply

(a) in relation to all ships or aircraft, whether British or not and whether registered or not and wherever the residence or domicile of their owners may be;

(b) in relation to all claims, wherever arising (including, in the case of cargo or wreck salvage, claims in respect of cargo or wreck found on land); and

(c) so far as they relate to mortgages and charges, to all mortgages or charges, whether registered or not and whether legal or equitable, including mortgages and charges created under foreign law.

(8) Nothing in subsection (7) shall be construed as extending to the cases in which money or property is recoverable under any of the provisions of-

(Added 3 of 1989 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 20 U.K.]

Note:

* Please also see following-

(a): in relation to the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, Part 3 of Schedule 5 to Cap 415 and s. 1 of Schedule 2 to Cap 508;
(b): in relation to the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1979, s. 117 of Cap 281, s. 103 of Cap 415 and s. 142 of Cap 478.

Section:	12B	Mode of exercise of Admiralty jurisdiction	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1): Subject to section 12C an action in personam may be brought in the Court of First Instance in all cases within the Admiralty jurisdiction of that court.
(2): In the case of any such claim as is mentioned in section 12A(2)(a), (c) or (r) or any such question as is mentioned in section 12A(2)(b), an action in rem may be brought in the Court of First Instance against the ship or property in connection with which the claim or question arises and such action shall be deemed to be brought by and upon the issue of the writ in rem.
(3): In any case in which there is a maritime lien or other charge on any ship, aircraft or other property for the amount claimed, an action in rem may be brought in the Court of First Instance against that ship, aircraft or property.

(4) In the case of any such claim as is mentioned in section 12A(2)(e) to (q), where-

(a): the claim arises in connection with a ship; and
(b): the person who would be liable on the claim in an action in personam ("the relevant person") was,

when the cause of action arose, the owner or charterer of, or in possession or in control of, the ship, an action in rem may (whether or not the claim gives rise to a maritime lien on that ship) be brought in the Court of First Instance against-

(i): that ship, if at the time when the action is brought the relevant person is either the beneficial owner of that ship as respects all the shares in it or the charterer of it under a charter by demise; or
(ii): any other ship of which, at the time when the action is brought, the relevant person is the beneficial owner as respects all the shares in it.

(5): In the case of a claim in the nature of towage or pilotage in respect of an aircraft, an action in rem may be brought in the Court of First Instance against that aircraft if, at the time when the action is brought, it is beneficially owned by the person who would be liable on the claim in an action in personam.
(6): Where, in the exercise of its Admiralty jurisdiction, the Court of First Instance orders any ship, aircraft or other property to be sold, the court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any question arising as to the title to the proceeds of sale.
(7): In determining for the purposes of subsections (4) and (5) whether a person would be liable on a claim in an action in personam it shall be assumed that he has his habitual residence or a place of business within Hong Kong.
(8): where, as regards any such claim as is mentioned in section 12A(2)(e) to (q), a ship has been served with a writ or arrested in an action in rem brought to enforce that claim, no other ship may be served with a writ or arrested in that or any other action in rem brought to enforce that claim; but this subsection does not prevent the issue, in respect of any one such claim, of a writ naming more than 1 ship or of 2 or more writs each naming a different ship.

(Added 3 of 1989 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 21 U.K.]

Section:	12C	Restrictions on entertainment of actions in personam in collision and other similar cases	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) This section applies to any claim for damage, loss of life or personal injury arising out of

(a): a collision between ships;
(b): the carrying out of, or omission to carry out, a manoeuvre in the case of 1 or more of 2 or more ships; or
(c): non-compliance, on the part of 1 or more of 2 or more ships, with the collision regulations.

(3): The Court of First Instance shall not entertain any action in personam to enforce a claim to which this section applies until any proceedings previously brought by the plaintiff in any court outside Hong Kong against the same defendant in respect of the same incident or series of incidents have been discontinued or otherwise come to an end.
(4): Subsections (2) and (3) shall apply to counterclaims (except counterclaims in proceedings arising out of the same incident or series of incidents) as they apply to actions, the references to the plaintiff and the defendant being for this purpose read as references to the plaintiff on the counterclaim and the defendant to the counterclaim respectively.
(5): Subsections (2) and (3) shall not apply to any action or counterclaim if the defendant thereto submits or has agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of the court.
(6): Subject to subsection (3), the Court of First Instance shall have jurisdiction to entertain an action in personam to enforce a claim to which this section applies whenever any of the conditions specified in subsection (2)(a) to (c) is satisfied, and the rules of court relating to the service of process outside the jurisdiction shall make such provision as may appear to the Rules Committee constituted under section 55 to be appropriate having regard to the provisions of this subsection.
(7): Nothing in this section shall prevent an action which is brought in accordance with the provisions of this section in the Court of First Instance being transferred, in accordance with the enactments in that behalf, to some other court.
(8): For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that this section applies in relation to the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance not being Admiralty jurisdiction as well as in relation to its Admiralty jurisdiction.

(Added 3 of 1989 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 22 U.K.]

Section:	12D	Court of First Instance not to have jurisdiction in cases within Rhine Navigation Convention	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

The Court of First Instance shall not have jurisdiction to determine any claim or question certified by the Governor to be a claim or question which under the Rhine Navigation Convention, falls to be determined in accordance with the provisions of that Convention; and any proceedings to enforce such a claim which are commenced in the Court of First Instance shall be set aside.

(Added 3 of 1989 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 23 U.K.]

Section:	12E	Supplementary provisions as to Admiralty jurisdiction	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:

Cap 4 - HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) In sections 12A to 12D and this section, unless the context otherwise requires"collision regulations" (碰撞規例) means regulations made or deemed to have been made under Part IX of the

Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap 369);

"goods" (貨物) includes baggage;

"hovercraft" (氣墊船) means a vehicle designed to be supported when in motion wholly, or partly, by air expelled

from the vehicle to form a cushion of which the boundaries include the ground, water or other surface beneath the vehicle; "master" (船長) includes every person (except a pilot) having command or charge of a ship; "Rhine Navigation Convention" (《萊茵河航行公約》) means the Convention of 7 October 1868 as revised by any subsequent convention; "ship" (船舶) includes any description of vessel used in navigation and (except in subsection (2)(c) of this section) includes, subject to any regulations made by the Governor, a hovercraft; "towage" (拖曳) and "pilotage" (領港) in relation to an aircraft, mean towage and pilotage while the aircraft is waterborne.

(2) Nothing in sections 12A to 12D shall-

(a) be construed as limiting the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance to refuse to entertain an action for wages by the master or a member of the crew of a ship, not being a British ship or a ship registered in Hong Kong; (Amended 74 of 1990 s. 104(3); 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(b) affect the provisions of section 552 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (1894 c. 60 U.K.)* (power of a receiver of wreck to detain a ship in respect of a salvage claim) in its application to Hong Kong; or

(c) authorize proceedings in rem in respect of any claim against the Crown, or the arrest, detention or sale of any of Her Majesty's ships or Her Majesty's aircraft or Her Majesty's hovercraft, or, subject to any regulations made by the Governor, of any ship, aircraft, hovercraft, cargo or other property belonging to the Crown or the Government of Hong Kong.

(3) Droits of Admiralty or droits of or forfeitures to the Crown condemned by the Court of First Instance shall become the property of the Government of Hong Kong and the Court of First Instance may of its own motion or upon application order that such property be sold and the proceeds paid into the general revenue. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(4) In this section-"Her Majesty's ships" (女皇陛下的船舶) and "Her Majesty's aircraft" (女皇陛下的航空器) have the meanings given by section 38(2) of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (1947 c. 44 U.K.); "Her Majesty's hovercraft" (女皇陛下的氣墊船) means hovercraft belonging to the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom or Her Majesty's Government in Hong Kong.

(Added 3 of 1989 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 24 U.K.]

Note:

* Please also see following-

(a) in relation to the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, Part 3 of Schedule 5 to Cap 415 and s. 1 of Schedule 2 to Cap 508;

(b) in relation to the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1979, s. 117 of Cap 281, s. 103 of Cap 415 and s. 142 of Cap 478.

Section:	12F	Transfer of proceedings to the Lands Tribunal	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

The Court of First Instance may, either of its own motion or on the application of any party, order at any stage the transfer to the Lands Tribunal of all or part of any action or proceedings before it which are within the jurisdiction of the Lands Tribunal.

(Added 3 of 2008 s. 43)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1): The Court of Appeal shall be a superior court of record.
(4): For the purposes of and incidental to-

(a) the hearing and determination of any appeal to the Court of Appeal; and

(b): the amendment, execution and enforcement of any judgment or order made on such an appeal, the Court of Appeal shall have all the authority and jurisdiction of the court or tribunal from which the appeal was brought. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 9) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 15 U.K.]
(5): Any provision in this or any other Ordinance which authorizes or requires the taking of any steps for the execution or enforcement of a judgment or order of the Court of First Instance applies in relation to a judgment or order of the Court of Appeal as it applies in relation to a judgment or order of the Court of First Instance. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 9. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

only to costs which are by law left to the discretion of the court or tribunal; (Replaced 52 of 1987 s.

10. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 18 U.K.]

(ea) except as provided by the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap 341), from any decision of the Court of First Instance-(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(i): on an appeal under section 23 of that Ordinance on a question of law arising out of an arbitration award; or
(ii): under section 23A of that Ordinance on a question of law arising in the course of a reference; (Added 52 of 1987 s. 10)

(eb) from a decision of the Court of First Instance in respect of which a certificate is granted under section 27C of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484) and leave to appeal is granted under section 27D of that Ordinance in any proceedings; (Added 11 of 2002 s. 6)

(g): from a determination, judgment or order of the Court of First Instance referred to in section 22(1)(c) of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484). (Added 21 of 2001 s. 48)

(4): Rules of court made under section 54 may provide for orders or judgments of any prescribed description to be treated for any prescribed purpose connected with appeals to the Court of Appeal as final or as interlocutory. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 10) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 60 U.K.]
(5): No appeal shall lie from a decision of the Court of Appeal as to whether a judgment or order is, for any purpose connected with an appeal to that court, final or interlocutory. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 10)
(1): Except as provided by rules of court, no appeal lies to the Court of Appeal from an interlocutory judgment or order of the Court of First Instance in any civil cause or matter unless leave to appeal has been granted by the Court of First Instance or the Court of Appeal.

Section:	14AA	Leave to appeal required for interlocutory appeals	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(5) This section does not apply in relation to an interlocutory judgment or order of the Court of First Instance

made before the commencement* of this section. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 25)

Note:

* Commencement day: 2 April 2009.

Section:	14AB	Decision on leave to appeal final	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

No appeal lies from a decision of the Court of Appeal as to whether or not leave to appeal to it should be granted. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 25)

Section:	14A	Appeal from order on application for judicial review in criminal cause or matter	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

An appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal from a judgment or order of the Court of First Instance given or made on an application for judicial review referred to in section 21K(1) and relating to a criminal cause or matter. (Added 2 of 1993 s. 4. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	15	Application for new trial	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Where any cause or matter or any issue in any cause or matter has been tried in the Court of First Instance, any application for a new trial thereof, or to set aside a verdict, finding or judgment therein, shall be heard and determined by the Court of Appeal.

(2) Nothing in this section shall alter the practice in bankruptcy.

(Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 11. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 17 U.K.]

Section:	16	Law and equity to be administered in High Court	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance, when exercising jurisdiction in any civil cause or matter, shall continue to administer law and equity on the basis that, wherever there is any conflict or variance between the rules of equity and the rules of the common law with reference to the same matter, the rules of equity shall prevail.

(2) The Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance shall give the same effect as hitherto-

(a): to all equitable estates, titles, rights, reliefs, defences and counterclaims, and to all equitable duties and liabilities; and
(b): subject thereto, to all legal claims and demands and all estates, titles, rights, duties, obligations, and

liabilities existing by the common law or by any custom or created by any Ordinance, and shall so exercise its jurisdiction in every cause or matter before it as to secure that, as far as possible, all matters in dispute between the parties are completely and finally determined, and all multiplicity of legal proceedings with respect to any of those matters is avoided.

(3) Nothing in this Ordinance shall affect the power of the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance to stay any proceedings before it, where it thinks fit to do so, either of its own motion or on the application of any person, whether or not a party to the proceedings.

(Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 11. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 49 U.K.]

Section:	17	Power to award damages as well as, or in substitution for, injunction or specific performance	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Where the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance has jurisdiction to entertain an application for an injunction or specific performance, it may award damages in addition to, or in substitution for, an injunction or specific performance.

(Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 11. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

[cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 50 U.K.]

Section:	18	(Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 12)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Section:	19	(Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 12)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Section:	20	Power of Court of First Instance to impose charging order	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

s.: 13)
(4): This section shall apply to a judgment, order, decree or award however called of any court or arbitrator, including any foreign court or foreign arbitrator, which is or has become enforceable, whether wholly or to a limited extent, as it applies to a judgment or order of the Court of First Instance.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1979 c. 53 s. 1 U.K.]

Section:	20A	Property which may be charged	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1): Subject to subsection (3), a charge may be imposed by a charging order only on-

(2): The assets referred to in subsection (1) are-

(3) In any case where a charge is imposed by a charging order on any interest in an asset of a kind mentioned in subsection (2)(b) or (c), the Court of First Instance may provide for the charge to extend to any interest, dividend or other distribution payable and any bonus issue in respect of the asset. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(4) In this section-"dividend" (派息) includes any distribution in respect of any unit of a unit trust; [cf. 1979 c. 53 s. 6 U.K.] "stock" (證券) includes shares, debentures, loan stocks, funds, bonds, notes, any other securities issued by the body

concerned, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of that body and any rights or options to subscribe for or be allotted any of the foregoing; and

"unit trust" (單位信託) means any trust established for the purpose, or having the effect, of providing, for persons having funds available for investment, facilities for the participation by them, as beneficiaries under the trust, in any profits or income arising from the acquisition, holding, management or disposal of any property whatsoever.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 14) [cf. 1979 c. 53 s. 2 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) A charging order may be made either absolutely or subject to conditions as to notifying the debtor or as to the time when the charge is to become enforceable, or as to other matters.

(2) The Land Registration Ordinance (Cap 128) shall apply in relation to charging orders as it applies in relation to other orders or writs issued or made for the purpose of enforcing judgments.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, a charge imposed by a charging order shall have the like effect and shall be enforceable in the same courts and in the same manner as an equitable charge created by the debtor by writing under his hand.

(4) The Court of First Instance may at any time, on the application of the debtor or of any person interested in any property to which the order relates, make an order discharging or varying the charging order. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(5) In the case of a charging order registered pursuant to the Land Registration Ordinance (Cap 128), if an order under subsection (4) discharging the charging order is made, the Land Registrar shall on the filing with him of a memorial and an office copy of such order, enter a discharge of such charging order on the register, and may issue certificates of such entry. (Amended 8 of 1993 s. 3)

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 14) [cf. 1979 c. 53 s. 3 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) A sum standing to the credit of a person in a deposit account in an authorized financial institution shall, for the purposes of the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance to attach debts for the purpose of satisfying judgments or orders for the payment of money, be deemed to be a sum due or accruing to that person and, subject to rules of court, shall be attachable accordingly, notwithstanding that any of the following conditions applicable to the account, that is to say- (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 15; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a) any condition that notice is required before any money is withdrawn;

(b) any condition that a personal application must be made before any money is withdrawn;

(d) any condition that a receipt for money deposited must be produced before any money is withdrawn; or

(e) any other condition prescribed by rules of court, has not been satisfied.

(2) In this section "authorized financial institution" (認可金融機構) means an authorized institution within

the meaning of section 2 of the Banking Ordinance (Cap 155). (Added 52 of 1987 s. 15. Amended 49 of 1995 s. 53) [cf. 1956 c. 46 s. 38 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Subject to section 21B, a person shall not be arrested or imprisoned to enforce, secure or pursue a civil claim for the payment of money or damages except under an order of Court; and the Court shall have jurisdiction to make such an order for arrest or imprisonment only to enforce, secure or pursue a judgment for the payment of a specified sum of money.

(2) An order for imprisonment under subsection (1) shall be for a period not exceeding 3 months.

(3) The period mentioned in subsection (2) may be amended by resolution of the Legislative Council.

(4) (a) The Court may, on application, discharge, vary or suspend an order for arrest or imprisonment made under this section, either absolutely or subject to such conditions as the Court thinks fit.

(b) The Court may make an order for arrest or imprisonment under this section subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, including conditions as to the time and place of execution of the order and the condition that the judgment debtor be released on the payment of the judgment debt and costs, the provision of security by him or on his behalf or on the surrender of his travel documents.

(5) In this section, "Court" (法庭) includes the Registrar or any Master. (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 16)

(6) This section shall not affect any jurisdiction of the Court to make orders of committal in relation to

(a) contempt of court; or

(b) disobedience of a judgment or order of the Court. (Added 1 of 1984 s. 2)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The Court shall have jurisdiction to make an order prohibiting a person from leaving Hong Kong (a prohibition order) to facilitate the enforcement, securing or pursuance of-

(a) a judgment against that person for the payment of a specified sum of money;

(b) a judgment or order against that person

(i) for the payment of an amount to be assessed; or

(ii) requiring him to deliver any property or perform any other act; or

(i) for the payment of money or damages; or

(ii) for the delivery of any property or the performance of any other act.

(2) The Court shall not make an order under subsection (1)(b) unless it is satisfied that there is probable cause for believing that-

(a) the person against whom the order is sought is about to leave Hong Kong; and

(b) by reason of paragraph (a), satisfaction of the judgment or order is likely to be obstructed or delayed.

(3) The Court shall not make an order under subsection (1)(c) unless it is satisfied that there is probable cause for believing that-

(a) there is a good cause of action;

(b) the person against whom the order is sought-

(i) incurred the alleged liability, which is the subject of the claim, in Hong Kong while he was present in Hong Kong; or

(ii) carries on business in Hong Kong; or

(iii) is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong;

(d) by reason of paragraph (c), any judgment that may be given against that person is likely to be obstructed or delayed.

(4) (a) The Court may, on application, discharge a prohibition order, either absolutely or subject to such conditions as the Court thinks fit.

(b) The Court may make a prohibition order subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, including the condition that the order shall have no effect if the judgment debtor or person against whom the claim is made satisfies the judgment or the claim or provides such security as the Court may order.

(5) (a) An order under subsection (1) shall lapse-

(i) on the expiry of one month but the Court may, on the application of the judgment creditor or claimant, extend or renew the order for a period which does not exceed, with the initial period of one month and any other period of extension or renewal, 3 months; and

(ii) on the service upon the Director of Immigration and the filing with the Registrar of a notice by the judgment creditor or claimant advising that the order is no longer required.

(b) The judgment creditor or claimant shall serve and file the notice mentioned in paragraph (a)(ii) as soon as reasonably possible after the order is no longer required.

(6) A copy of an order under subsection (1) and any other order ancillary thereto shall be served on the Director of Immigration, the Commissioner of Police and, if he can be found, the judgment debtor or person against whom the claim is made.

(7) Where the Court makes an order under subsection (1) prohibiting a person from leaving Hong Kong, any person who, having been served with a copy of the order or otherwise informed of its effect, attempts to leave Hong Kong in contravention of that order may be arrested by any immigration officer, police officer or bailiff.

(8) (a) A person arrested under subsection (7) shall be brought before the Court before the expiry of the day after the day of arrest and the Court may

(i) in the case mentioned in subsection (1)(a), make such order, for the examination or imprisonment of that person, under rules of court, as is appropriate;

(ii) in the case of any other person, make an order for the imprisonment of that person until the lapse or discharge of the prohibition order; or

(iii) in any case, make an order discharging that person from arrest either absolutely or upon compliance with such conditions as the Court thinks fit. (b) Section 71 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap 1) shall not apply to this subsection.

(9) The Director of Immigration shall not be liable for any failure to prevent any person against whom an order is made under this section from leaving Hong Kong.

In this section, "Court" (法院、法庭) includes the Registrar or any Master. (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 17)
The form of order under this section may be prescribed by rules of court. (Added 1 of 1984 s. 2)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a writ of fieri facias or other writ of execution against goods issued from the Court of First Instance shall bind the property in the goods of the execution debtor as from the time when the writ is delivered to the bailiff to be executed. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) A writ of a kind referred to in subsection (1) shall not prejudice the title to any goods of the execution debtor acquired by a person in good faith and for valuable consideration unless he had, at the time when he acquired his title, notice that that writ or any other such writ by virtue of which the goods of the execution debtor might be seized or attached had been delivered to and remained unexecuted in the hands of the bailiff.

(3) For the better manifestation of the time mentioned in subsection (1), it shall be the duty of the bailiff (without fee) on receipt of any such writ as is there mentioned to endorse on its back the hour, day, month and year when he received it.

(4) In this section and in section 21D-

(a) "property" (產權) means the general property in goods, and not merely a special property;

(b) "bailiff" (執達主任) includes any officer charged with the enforcement of a writ of execution;

(c) any reference to the goods of the execution debtor is to be deemed a reference to property liable to attachment and sale in execution of a judgment;

(d) an act shall be treated as done in good faith if it is in fact done honestly, whether it is done negligently or not.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 138 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The following property is liable to attachment and sale in execution of a judgment, namely, land, goods, money, bank notes, cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes, Government stock, bonds, or other securities for money, debts, shares in the capital or joint stock of any company or corporation, (other than a private company within the meaning of section 29 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap 32)) and all other property whatsoever, whether movable or immovable, belonging to the judgment debtor, and whether the same is held in his own name or by another person in trust for him or on his behalf:

Provided that the following property shall not be so liable, namely, the tools (if any) of the trade of the judgment debtor and the necessary wearing apparel and bedding of him and his family dependent on and residing with him, to a value, inclusive of tools and apparel and bedding, not exceeding $10000 in the whole.

(2) Where any goods in the possession of an execution debtor at the time of seizure by the bailiff charged with the enforcement of a writ, warrant or other process of execution, are sold by such bailiff without any claim having been made to them, the purchaser of the goods so sold shall, subject to subsection (3), acquire a good title to such goods and no person shall be entitled to recover against the bailiff, or anyone lawfully acting under his authority, except as provided by section 46 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap 6), for any sale of such goods or for paying over the proceeds thereof prior to the receipt of a claim to the said goods, unless it is proved that the person from whom recovery is sought had notice or might by making reasonable inquiry have ascertained that the goods were not the property of the execution debtor:

Provided that nothing in this subsection shall affect the right of any claimant who may prove that at the time of sale he had title to any goods so seized and sold to any remedy to which he may be entitled against any person other than such bailiff or purchaser as aforesaid.

(3) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section the Court may, subject to rules of court, set aside the sale of any immovable property in execution of a judgment on the ground of material irregularity in the conduct of the sale.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Payment of a fine imposed, or sum due under a recognizance forfeited, by the Court of Appeal in its civil jurisdiction or by the Court of First Instance may be enforced upon the order of the Court in like manner as a judgment of the Court of First Instance for the payment of money.

(2) Where payment of a fine or other sum falls to be enforced upon an order of the Court of Appeal in its civil jurisdiction or of the Court of First Instance-

(a) the Court shall, if the fine or other sum is not paid in full forthwith or within such time as the Court may allow, certify to the Registrar the sum payable; and

(b) the Registrar shall thereupon proceed to enforce payment of that sum as if it were due to him as a

judgment debt.

(3) In this section, "fine" (罰款) includes a penalty imposed in civil proceedings.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 140 U.K.]

Remarks: For the saving and transitional provisions relating to the amendments made by the Resolution of the Legislative Council (L.N. 130 of 2007), see paragraph (12) of that Resolution.

(1) Subject to subsection (1A), this section has effect where a lessor is proceeding by action in the Court of First Instance to enforce against a lessee a right of re-entry or forfeiture in respect of any land for non-payment of rent. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2; 32 of 2002 s. 40)

(1A) Where during the term of a lease the application of this section has prevented a lessor from enforcing against a lessee a right mentioned in subsection (1), then during that term this section shall not be applicable again to prevent the lessor from exercising that right against the lessee unless the Court is satisfied that there is good cause why this section should apply in favour of the lessee. (Added 32 of 2002 s. 40)

(2) If, within the time prescribed by rules of court for acknowledging service of the writ by which the action was commenced, the lessee pays into court all the rent in arrear and the costs of the action, the action shall cease, and the lessee shall hold the land according to the lease without any new lease.

(3) If- (a) the action does not cease under subsection (2); and

(b) the Court at the trial is satisfied that the lessor is entitled to enforce the right of re-entry or forfeiture, the Court shall order possession of the land to be given to the lessor at the expiration of such period, but not being less than 7 days from the date of the order, as the Court thinks fit, unless within that period the lessee pays into court all the rent in arrear and such sum as the Court shall direct on account of the costs of the action. (Amended 32 of 2002 s. 40)

(3A) The Secretary for Development may, by notice published in the Gazette, amend the number of days specified in subsection (3) by substituting another number therefor. (Added 32 of 2002 s. 40. Amended L.N. 130 of 2007)

(4) The Court may extend the period specified under subsection (3) at any time before possession of the land is recovered in pursuance of the order under that subsection.

(5) Subject to subsection (6), if- (a) within the period specified in the order; or

(b) within that period as extended under subsection (4), the lessee pays into court-

(i) all the rent in arrear; and

(ii) the sum directed to be paid on account of the costs of the action, he shall hold the land according to the lease without any new lease.

(6) Subsection (2) shall not apply where the lessor is proceeding in the same action to enforce a right of reentry or forfeiture on any other ground as well as for non-payment of rent, or to enforce any other claim as well as the right of re-entry or forfeiture and the claim for arrears of rent.

(7) If the lessee does not- (a) within the period specified in the order; or

(b) within that period as extended under subsection (4), pay into court

(i) all the rent in arrear; and

(ii) the sum directed to be paid on account of the costs of the action, the order may be enforced and so long as the order remains unreversed the lessee shall be barred from all relief.

(8) The extension under subsection (4) of a period fixed by the Court shall not be treated as relief from which the lessee is barred by subsection (7) if he fails to pay into court all the rent in arrear and the sum directed to be paid on account of the costs of the action within that period.

(9) Where the Court extends a period under subsection (4) at a time when- (a) that period has expired; and

(b) a writ of possession in respect of the land has been issued, the Court shall suspend the writ for the extended period, and if, before the expiration of the extended period, the lessee pays into court all the rent in arrear and the sum directed to be paid on account of the costs of the action, the Court shall cancel the writ.

(10) Nothing in this section shall be taken to affect-

(a) the power of the Court to enter final judgment in a case where the defendant fails to give notice of intention to defend;

(b) the power of the Court to make any order which it would otherwise have power to make as respects a right of re-entry or forfeiture on any ground other than non-payment of rent; or

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18) [cf. 1984 c. 28 s. 138 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

In a case where section 21F has effect, if-

(a) one-half-year's rent is in arrear at the time of the commencement of the action;

(b) the lessor has a right of re-entry for non-payment of that rent; and

(c) no sufficient distress is to be found on the premises countervailing the arrears then due, the service of the writ in the action in the prescribed manner shall stand in lieu of a demand and re-entry.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18) [cf. 1984 c. 28 s. 139 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2; 29 of 1998 s. 3

(1) In this section and sections 21F and 21G- "lease" (租契) includes-
(a) an original or derivative under-lease; and

(b) an agreement for a lease where the lessee has become entitled to have his lease granted; "lessee" (承租人) includes
(a) an original or derivative under-lessee; and

(b) the persons deriving title under a lessee; "lessor" (出租人) includes
(a) an original or derivative under-lessor; and

(b) the persons deriving title under a lessor; "trial" (審訊) includes the hearing of an application for summary judgment; "under-lease" (分租租契) includes an agreement for an under-lease where the under-lessee has become entitled to
have his under-lease granted; "under-lessee" (承轉租人) includes any person deriving title under an under-lessee.

(2) Nothing in section 21F shall affect the provisions of the Government Rights (Re-entry and Vesting Remedies) Ordinance (Cap 126). (Amended 29 of 1998 s. 3)

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18) [cf. 1984 c. 28 s. 140 U.K.]

Section:	21I	Orders of mandamus, prohibition and certiorari	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(3): The power of the Court of First Instance under any enactment to require, magistrates or a judge or officer of a District Court to do any act relating to the duties of their respective offices, or to require a magistrate to state a case for the opinion of the Court of First Instance, in any case where the Court of First Instance formerly had by virtue of any enactment jurisdiction to make a rule absolute, or an order, for any of those purposes, shall be exercisable by order of mandamus. (Amended 47 of 1997 s. 10; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(4) In any enactment

(a): references to a writ of mandamus, of prohibition or of certiorari shall be read as references to the corresponding order; and
(b): references to the issue or award of any such writ shall be read as references to the making of the corresponding order.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 29 U.K.]

Section:	21J	Injunction to restrain persons acting in offices in which they are not entitled to act	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Where a person not entitled to do so acts in an office to which this section applies, the Court of First Instance may- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a): grant an injunction restraining him from so acting; and
(b): if the case so requires, declare the office to be vacant.

(2) This section applies to any public office or office which has been created by any enactment.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 30 U.K.]

Section:	21K	Application for judicial review	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) An application to the Court of First Instance for one or more of the following forms of relief-

(a): an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari;
(b): an injunction under section 21J restraining a person not entitled to do so from acting in an office to

which that section applies, shall be made in accordance with rules of court by a procedure to be known as an application for judicial review.

(c): all the circumstances of the case, it would be just and convenient for the declaration to be made or the injunction to be granted, as the case may be.

(3) No application for judicial review shall be made unless the leave of the Court of First Instance has been obtained in accordance with rules of court; and the court shall not grant leave to make such an application unless it considers that the applicant has a sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.

(4) On an application for judicial review the Court of First Instance may award damages to the applicant if-

(a): he has joined with his application a claim for damages arising from any matter to which the application relates; and
(b): the court is satisfied that, if the claim had been made in an action begun by the applicant at the time of making his application, he would have been awarded damages.

(5): If, on an application for judicial review seeking an order of certiorari, the Court of First Instance quashes the decision to which the application relates, the Court of First Instance may remit the matter to the court, tribunal or authority concerned, with a direction to reconsider it and reach a decision in accordance with the findings of the Court of First Instance.
(b): any relief sought on the application, if it considers that the granting of the relief sought would be likely to cause substantial hardship to, or substantially prejudice the rights of, any person or would be detrimental to good administration.
(1): The Court of First Instance may by order (whether interlocutory or final) grant an injunction or appoint a receiver in all cases in which it appears to the Court of First Instance to be just or convenient to do so.
(2): Any such order may be made either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks just.
(3): The power of the Court of First Instance under subsection (1) or section 21M to grant an interlocutory injunction restraining a party to any proceedings from removing from the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance, or otherwise dealing with, assets located within that jurisdiction shall be exercisable in cases where that party is, as well as in cases where he is not, domiciled or resident or present within that jurisdiction. (Amended 3 of 2008 s. 9)

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 18. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 37 U.K.]

Section:	21M	Interim relief in the absence of substantive proceedings	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) Without prejudice to section 21L(1), the Court of First Instance may by order appoint a receiver or grant other interim relief in relation to proceedings which—

(a) have been or are to be commenced in a place outside Hong Kong; and

(b) are capable of giving rise to a judgment which may be enforced in Hong Kong under any Ordinance or at common law.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may be made either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the Court of First Instance thinks just.

(3) Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding that—

(a) the subject matter of those proceedings would not, apart from this section, give rise to a cause of action over which the Court of First Instance would have jurisdiction; or

(b) the appointment of the receiver or the interim relief sought is not ancillary or incidental to any proceedings in Hong Kong.

(4) The Court of First Instance may refuse an application for appointment of a receiver or interim relief under subsection (1) if, in the opinion of the Court, the fact that the Court has no jurisdiction apart from this section in relation to the subject matter of the proceedings concerned makes it unjust or inconvenient for the Court to grant the application.

(5) The power to make rules of court under section 54 includes power to make rules of court for—

(a) the making of an application for appointment of a receiver or interim relief under subsection (1); and

(b) the service out of the jurisdiction of an application or order for the appointment of a receiver or for interim relief.

(6) Any rules made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the Rules Committee considers necessary or expedient.

(7) In this section, “interim relief” (臨時濟助) includes an interlocutory injunction referred to in section

21L(3). (Added 3 of 2008 s. 10)

Section:	21N	Supplementary provisions as to interim relief in the absence of substantive proceedings	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) In exercising the power under section 21M(1), the Court of First Instance shall have regard to the fact that the power is—

(a) ancillary to proceedings that have been or are to be commenced in a place outside Hong Kong; and

(b) for the purpose of facilitating the process of a court outside Hong Kong that has primary jurisdiction over such proceedings.

(2) The Court of First Instance has the same power to make any incidental order or direction for the purpose of ensuring the effectiveness of an order granted under section 21M as if the order were granted under section 21L in relation to proceedings commenced in Hong Kong.

(Added 3 of 2008 s. 10)

Section:	22	(Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 19)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Section:	22A	Applications for, and issue of, writs of habeas corpus	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) An application may be made to the Court of First Instance

(a) alleging that a person named in the application is being detained without lawful justification; and

(b) requesting the issue of a writ of habeas corpus in respect of that person.

Cap 4 - HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

(4): As soon as practicable after receiving an application, the Court of First Instance must inquire into the allegation that the applicant is being unlawfully detained. All proceedings under this section are to be conducted in open court unless the Court, in exceptional circumstances specified by the Court, orders the proceedings, or a part of the proceedings, to be conducted in camera. All orders and decisions made in respect of those proceedings, and the reasons for those orders and decisions, are in every case to be announced in open court.
(6): The Court of First Instance may dismiss an application for a writ of habeas corpus if satisfied, on considering the application, that it has no substance.
(b): make a formal return to the writ. However, the Court of First Instance may extend the time within which a writ of habeas corpus must be complied with if it is satisfied that there is a good reason to do so.
(8): If for any reason it is not possible for the person to whom a writ of habeas corpus is directed to comply with the writ, that person must nevertheless make a return to the Court of First Instance specifying the reason why it is not possible to comply with the writ.
(9): When a person is brought before the Court of First Instance in accordance with a writ of habeas corpus, the Court must immediately inquire into the circumstances surrounding the detention of the person and must order the release of that person from detention unless satisfied that the detention is lawful.
(10): If a person who has custody of a detained person appears before the Court in accordance with an order made under subsection (5)(b) but fails to satisfy the Court that the detention is lawful, the Court must order the detained person to be released from detention immediately.
(b): contravenes subsection (12), is guilty of contempt of the Court of First Instance.
(14): The right to obtain a writ of habeas corpus under the common law is preserved and is affected by this section only in so far as it is inconsistent with this section.

(15) For the purposes of this section-

(a): a person has custody of another person not only when the person has actual custody over the body of that other person but also when the person has power or control over that other person's body; and
(b): in relation to an application made on behalf of a person, a reference to an applicant includes a

reference to that person. (Added 95 of 1997 s. 3. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	23	Restriction on repeated applications for habeas corpus	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any law or rule of court, where an application for habeas corpus has been made by or in respect of any person, no such application shall again be made to the Court of First Instance or any judge thereof by or in respect of that person on the same grounds, unless fresh evidence is adduced in support of the application. (Amended 95 of 1997 s. 4; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) (Repealed 95 of 1997 s. 4) [cf. 1960 c. 65 s. 14 U.K.]

Section:	24	Appeal in habeas corpus proceedings	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

An appeal shall lie as of right to the Court of Appeal from any decision of the Court of First Instance on an application for habeas corpus, whether the Court of First Instance orders the release of the person detained or refuses to make such an order.

(Amended 95 of 1997 s. 5; 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1960 c. 65 s. 15 U.K.]

Section:	25	Power of Court of First Instance to vary sentence on certiorari	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1): Where a person who has been sentenced for an offence by a magistrate or the District Court applies to the Court of First Instance for an order of certiorari to remove the proceedings before the magistrate or the District Court into the Court of First Instance, and the Court of First Instance determines that the magistrate or the District Court had no power to pass the sentence, the Court of First Instance may, instead of quashing the conviction, amend it by substituting for the sentence passed any sentence which the magistrate or the District Court had power to impose.
(2): Any sentence passed by the Court of First Instance by virtue of this section in substitution for the sentence passed by a magistrate or the District Court shall, unless the Court of First Instance otherwise directs, begin to run from the time when it would have begun to run if passed by the magistrate or the District Court.
(3): This section shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in relation to any order of a magistrate or the District Court which is made on, but does not form part of, the conviction of an offender as it applies in relation to a conviction and sentence.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1960 c. 65 s. 16 U.K.]

Section:	25A	Execution of instruments by order of Court of First Instance	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(b): cannot after reasonable inquiry be found, the Court of First Instance may, on such terms and conditions, if any, as may be just, order that the conveyance, contract or other document shall be executed, or that the negotiable instrument shall be endorsed, by such person as the Court may nominate for that purpose.

(2) A conveyance, contract, document or instrument executed or endorsed in accordance with subsection (1) shall have the same effect as if it had been executed or endorsed by the person originally directed to execute or endorse it.

(3) Nothing herein shall be held to abridge the powers of the Court of First Instance to proceed by attachment against any person neglecting or refusing to execute or endorse any such instrument.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 20. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 39 U.K.]

Section:	26	Wards of court	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, no infant shall be made a ward of court except by virtue of an order to that effect made by the Court of First Instance.

(2) Where application is made for such an order in respect of an infant, the infant shall become a ward of court on the making of the application, but shall cease to be a ward of court at the expiration of such period as may be prescribed by rules of court unless within that period an order has been made in accordance with the application.

(3) The Court of First Instance may, either upon an application in that behalf or without such an application, order that any infant who is for the time being a ward of court shall cease to be a ward of court.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1949 c. 100 s. 9 U.K.]

(1) The Court of First Instance may, on the application of the Secretary for Justice or an affected person, make an order that—

(a) no legal proceedings shall without the leave of the Court of First Instance be instituted by the person against whom the order is made; and

(b) any legal proceedings instituted by that person in any court before the making of the order shall not be continued by him without the leave of the Court of First Instance.

(2) The Court of First Instance may not make an order under subsection (1) unless—

(a) it is satisfied that the person against whom the order is to be made has habitually and persistently and without any reasonable ground instituted vexatious legal proceedings, whether in the High Court or in any inferior court, and whether against the same person or against different persons; and

(b) it has heard the person against whom the order is to be made or given him an opportunity of being heard.

(3) An order made under subsection (1)—

(a) may be made on such terms and conditions as the Court of First Instance thinks just; and

(b) may provide that it is to cease to have effect at the end of a specified period, but shall otherwise remain in force indefinitely.

(4) A copy of an order made under subsection (1) shall be published in the Gazette.

(5) In subsection (1), “affected person” (受影響的人) means a person who—

(a) is or has been a party to any of the vexatious legal proceedings; or

(b) has directly suffered adverse consequences resulting from such proceedings. (Replaced 3 of 2008 s. 13)

(1) Leave for the institution or continuance of any legal proceedings by a person who is the subject of an order for the time being in force under section 27(1) shall not be given unless the Court of First Instance is satisfied that—

(a) the proceedings are not an abuse of the process of the court in question; and

(b) there are reasonable grounds for the proceedings.

(2) No appeal lies from a decision of the Court of First Instance granting or refusing leave required under this section, unless leave to appeal has been granted by the Court of First Instance.

Section:	27	Restriction of vexatious legal proceedings	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

Section:	27A	Leave to institute or continue proceedings	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

Cap 4 - HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

(Added 3 of 2008 s. 13)

Section:	28	Sittings of High Court and distribution of business	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks: Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2 PART IV SITTINGS AND DISTRIBUTION OF BUSINESS

(1): The High Court shall sit at such times and at such places as the Chief Justice shall appoint.
(2): The distribution of business of the High Court shall be made in accordance with directions given by the

Chief Justice. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	29	Vacations	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The following vacations shall be observed in each year in the High Court and the Registries- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a): the Summer vacation; (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 22)
(b): the Christmas vacation; and
(c): the Easter vacation.

(2): The dates of the vacations referred to in subsection (1) shall be prescribed by rules of court.
(3): The days of the commencement and termination of each vacation shall be included in such vacation.

Section:	30	Business in vacations	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The High Court and the Registries shall be open during any vacation (except on general holidays) for the purpose of-(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a): holding criminal trials and determining criminal appeals and the transaction of all business incidental thereto; and
(b): the transaction of such other business as may be prescribed by rules of court. (Replaced 49 of 1983 s.

6)
(2)-(3) (Repealed 49 of 1983 s. 6)

Section:	31	Computation of vacation period and validity of acts therein	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1): Subject to sections 41 and 42 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221), to subsection (3) of this section and to rules of court, every proceeding in the Court of First Instance and all business arising therefrom shall be heard and determined by a judge of the Court of First Instance sitting alone.
(2): The proceedings in every action or matter subsequent to the trial or hearing, down to and including the final judgment or order, and any application for leave to appeal or for a stay of execution shall, so far as is practicable and convenient, be taken before the judge of the Court of First Instance before whom the trial or hearing took place.

Section:	32	Proceedings in Court of First Instance to be disposed of by single judge	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

(3) The Chief Justice may direct that any proceeding, or class of proceeding, in the Court of First Instance shall

be heard and determined by 2 or more judges of the Court. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	32A	Proceedings in court and in chambers	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Business in the Court of First Instance shall be heard and disposed of in court except insofar as it may, under this or any other enactment or in accordance with the practice of the Court, be dealt with in chambers. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 24. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 67 U.K.]

Section:	33	Powers of judge in chambers	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1): A judge of the Court of First Instance may, subject to rules of court, exercise in chambers all or any part of the jurisdiction vested in the Court of First Instance, in all such causes and matters and in all such proceedings in any causes or matters as may be heard in chambers by a judge of the High Court in England or as may be directed or authorized to be so heard by rules of court.
(2): A judge of the Court of First Instance sitting in court shall be deemed to constitute a court of the Court of First Instance.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1925 c. 49 s. 61 U.K.]

Section:	33A	Trial by jury in the Court of First Instance	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(b): any question or issue of a kind prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph by rules of court, the action shall be tried with a jury, unless the Court is of the opinion that the trial requires any prolonged examination of documents or accounts or any scientific or local investigation which cannot conveniently be made with a jury.
(2): An application under subsection (1) must be made not later than such time before the trial as may be prescribed by rules of court.

(3) An action to be tried in the Court of First Instance which does not by virtue of subsection (1) fall to be tried with a jury shall be tried without a jury unless the Court in its discretion orders it to be tried with a jury.

(4) Nothing in subsections (1) to (3) shall affect the power of the Court to order, in accordance with rules of court, that different questions of fact arising in any action be tried by different modes of trial; and where any such order is made, subsection (1) shall have effect only as respects questions relating to any such claim, question or issue as is mentioned in that subsection.

(5) Where for the purpose of disposing of any action or other matter which is being tried in the Court of First Instance by a judge with a jury it is necessary to ascertain the law of any other place which is applicable to the facts of the case, any question as to the effect of the evidence given with respect to that law shall, instead of being submitted to the jury, be decided by the judge alone.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 25. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 69 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) This section relates to the Court of Appeal in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction; and in this section "Court" (法庭) means the Court of Appeal exercising such jurisdiction. (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 26)
(2) The Court shall be duly constituted for the purpose of determining any appeal-
(a) by way of application for a new trial or to set aside a verdict, finding or judgment in any cause or matter in the Court of First Instance in which there has been a trial thereof or of any issue therein with a jury; or (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(b) under Part IV of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221), if it consists of an uneven number of Justices of Appeal not less than 3. (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 26)
(2A) The Court shall be duly constituted for the purpose of determining an appeal against sentence only under sections 83G and 83H of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221) if it consists of 2 Justices of Appeal. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 26)

(3) No judge shall sit as a member of the Court of Appeal on the hearing of, or shall determine any application in proceedings incidental or preliminary to-

(a) an appeal from a judgment or order made by him; or
(b) an appeal against a conviction before him or a sentence passed by him.

(4) Subject to subsection (6), where a Court of Appeal consisting of 3 or more Justices of Appeal sits, the judgment or order which is that of the majority of the Justices of Appeal sitting shall be deemed to be the judgment or order of the Court of Appeal, but if there is no judgment or order which is that of a majority of the Justices of Appeal sitting, the judgment or order appealed from shall be deemed to be the judgment or order of the Court of Appeal.
(5) Where a Court of Appeal consisting of 2 Justices of Appeal only sits and the 2 Justices of Appeal differ, then the judgment or order appealed from shall be disturbed only in so far as it may be modified or affected by any order they make as to which they do not differ:

Provided that-

(a) if the judgment or order appealed from is not so modified or affected, it shall be deemed to be the judgment or order of the Court of Appeal; or

(b) if the judgment or order appealed from is so modified or affected, it shall, as so modified or affected, be deemed to be the judgment or order of the Court of Appeal.

(6) In the case of an appeal under Part IV of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221), if no 2 of the Justices of Appeal agree as to the judgment or order to be made

(a) the judgment or order of the trial judge; or

(b) where there is no such judgment or order, the judgment or order of the President, shall be deemed to be the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

(7) For the purposes of this section and section 34A, an appeal under Part IV of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221) includes the consideration of a question of law reserved for the consideration of the Court of Appeal, the consideration of an application by the Secretary for Justice for the review of any sentence, and the consideration of a reference by the Secretary for Justice of a question of law, under sections 81, 81A and 81D respectively of that Ordinance. (Amended 20 of 1979 s. 10; L.N. 362 of 1997)

(Amended 52 of 1987 s. 26)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Subject to subsection (2), in pursuance of the criminal jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, any power of the Court of Appeal not involving the determination of the appeal may be exercised by a single Justice of Appeal in the same manner as it may be exercised by the Court of Appeal and subject to the same provisions.

(2) Where a single Justice of Appeal refuses an application to exercise any power of the Court of Appeal in

pursuance of subsection (1), the applicant shall be entitled to have the application determined by the Court of Appeal. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 27)

(1) This section relates to the Court of Appeal in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction; and in this section "Court" (法庭) means the Court of Appeal exercising such jurisdiction.

(2) The Court shall be duly constituted for the purpose of exercising any of its jurisdiction if it consists of an uneven number of Justices of Appeal not less than 3.
(3) Where
(a) part of any proceedings before the Court has been heard by an uneven number of Justices of Appeal greater than 3; and

(b) one or more members of the Court is or are unable to continue, the Court shall remain duly constituted for the purpose of those proceedings so long as the number of members (whether even or uneven) is not reduced to less than 3.

(4) The Court shall, if it consists of 2 Justices of Appeal, be duly constituted for the purpose of-

(a) hearing or determining any appeal against an interlocutory order or interlocutory judgment; (aa) hearing or determining any application for leave to appeal (except an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appean( � (Added 3 of 2008 s. 26)
(ab) hearing or determining any interlocutory application in relation to a cause or matter pending before it; (Added 3 of 2008 s. 30)

(b) hearing or determining any appeal against a decision of single Justice of Appeal acting by virtue of section 35(1);
(c) hearing or determining any appeal where all the parties have before the hearing filed a consent to the appeal being heard and determined by 2 Justices of Appeal;
(d) hearing the remainder of, and determining, any appeal where part of it has been heard by 3 or more Justices of Appeal of whom one or more are unable to continue and all the parties have consented to the remainder of the appeal being heard, and the appeal being determined, by 2 remaining Justices of Appeal; or
(e) hearing or determining an appeal of any such description or in any such circumstances not covered by paragraphs (a) to (d) as may be prescribed for the purposes of this subsection by an order made by the Chief Justice. (Amended 3 of 2008 s. 26)

(5) Where

(a) an appeal has been heard by the Court consisting of an even number of Justices of Appeal; and

(b) the members of the Court are equally divided, the case shall, on the application of any party to the appeal, be re-argued before and determined by an uneven number of Justices of Appeal not less than 3, before any appeal to the Court of Final Appeal. (Amended 79 of 1995 s. 50)
(6) In any cause or matter pending before the Court a single Justice of Appeal may at any time during any vacation make an interim order to prevent prejudice to the claims of any parties pending an appeal.

(7) Section 53 shall apply in relation to causes and matters before the Court as it applies in relation to causes and matters before the Court of First Instance.
(Added 52 of 1987 s. 27. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 54 U.K.]

Subject to subsection (3), in pursuance of the civil jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, any order or direction not involving the determination of an appeal to the Court of Appeal (including an order or direction giving leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal) may be made or given by a single judge sitting in court or in chambers, and a single judge may likewise make any interim order which he may think fit to prevent prejudice to the claims of any party pending an appeal. (Amended 3 of 2008 s. 27)
(2) (Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 28)

Every order or direction made or given by a single judge under subsection (1) may be discharged or varied by the Court of Appeal.

Section:	35	Powers of single judge in Court of Appeal	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(4) (Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 28)

Section:	36	Acts required to be done by Chief Justice may also be done by any judge	79 of 1995; 25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Where by or under any law any judicial or other act is required or authorized to be exercised or performed by the Chief Justice or by the Chief Judge of the High Court, such act other than an act in the performance of or relating to the performance of a function under the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484) may be exercised or performed by any judge of the High Court.

(Amended 79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	37	Registrar of High Court	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

PART V

REGISTRAR AND OTHER OFFICERS

(1) There shall be attached to the High Court a Registrar and such senior deputy registrars, deputy registrars and assistant registrars as may be appointed. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) The senior deputy registrars, deputy registrars and assistant registrars may be called Masters. (Added 52 of

1987 s. 29) (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 133)

Section:	37AA	Professional qualifications of Registrar, senior deputy registrars, deputy registrars and assistant registrars	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1) A person shall be eligible to be appointed as the Registrar if-

(a): he is qualified to practise as a barrister, solicitor or advocate in a court in Hong Kong or any other common law jurisdiction having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal matters; and

(iii) been a District Judge appointed in accordance with section 4 or 7 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336);

(iv): been the Registrar of the District Court or a deputy registrar or assistant registrar of the District Court, appointed in accordance with section 14 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336);
(v): been a permanent magistrate appointed in accordance with section 5 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227);
(vi): been a coroner appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Coroners Ordinance (Cap 504);

(vii) been an adjudicator appointed in accordance with section 4 of the Small Claims Tribunal Ordinance (Cap 338);

(viii) been a presiding officer appointed in accordance with section 4 of the Labour Tribunal Ordinance (Cap 25);

(ix): been a legal officer as defined in section 2 of the Legal Officers Ordinance (Cap 87);
(x): been the Director of Legal Aid or a Deputy Director of Legal Aid, Assistant Director of Legal Aid or Legal Aid Officer, appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91);
(xi): been the Official Receiver or an Assistant Official Receiver (Legal), Assistant Principal Solicitor, Senior Solicitor or Solicitor, appointed in accordance with section 75 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap 6); or

(xii) been the Director of Intellectual Property or a Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Assistant Director of Intellectual Property, Senior Solicitor or Solicitor, appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Director of Intellectual Property (Establishment) Ordinance (Cap 412).

(2): A person shall be eligible to be appointed as a senior deputy registrar if-

(3): A person shall be eligible to be appointed as a deputy registrar if-

(4): A person shall be eligible to be appointed as an assistant registrar if-

(iii) been the Registrar of the District Court or a deputy registrar or assistant registrar of the District Court, appointed in accordance with section 14 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336);

(iv): been a permanent magistrate appointed in accordance with section 5 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227);
(v): been a coroner appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Coroners Ordinance (Cap 504);
(vi): been an adjudicator appointed in accordance with section 4 of the Small Claims Tribunal Ordinance (Cap 338);

(vii) been a presiding officer appointed in accordance with section 4 of the Labour Tribunal Ordinance (Cap 25);

(viii) been a legal officer as defined in section 2 of the Legal Officers Ordinance (Cap 87);

(ix): been the Director of Legal Aid or a Deputy Director of Legal Aid, Assistant Director of Legal Aid or Legal Aid Officer, appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91);
(x): been the Official Receiver or an Assistant Official Receiver (Legal), Assistant Principal Solicitor, Senior Solicitor or Solicitor, appointed in accordance with section 75 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap 6); or
(xi): been the Director of Intellectual Property or a Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Assistant Director of Intellectual Property, Senior Solicitor or Solicitor, appointed in accordance with section 3 of the Director of Intellectual Property (Establishment) Ordinance (Cap 412).

(5) For the purposes of calculating the period of 5 years referred to in subsections (1)(b), (2)(b), (3)(b) and (4)(b)-

(a): periods of less than 5 years falling within any of the subparagraphs of subsection (1)(b), (2)(b), (3)(b) or (4)(b), as the case may be, may be combined;
(b): periods served in an office specified in Part I of the First Schedule to the repealed Registrar General (Establishment) Ordinance (Cap 100) may be taken into account notwithstanding the repeal of that Ordinance.

(Added 10 of 2005 s. 134)

(1) The Chief Justice may appoint a person who is eligible under section 37AA(1) to be appointed as the Registrar to be a temporary registrar if-

(a): the office of the Registrar becomes vacant for any reason; or
(b): he considers that the interest of the administration of justice requires that a temporary registrar should be appointed.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred on him by subsection (1), the Chief Justice may appoint a temporary registrar for a specified period only.

(3) The Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a temporary registrar at any time.

(4) In this section and section 40A, "temporary registrar" (暫委司法常務官) means a person appointed under

subsection (1) to be a temporary registrar. (Added 10 of 2005 s. 134)

Section:	37AC	Appointment of temporary senior deputy registrars	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1) The Chief Justice may appoint a person who is eligible under section 37AA(2) to be appointed as a senior deputy registrar to be a temporary senior deputy registrar if-

(a) the office of any senior deputy registrar becomes vacant for any reason; or

(b) he considers that the interest of the administration of justice requires that a temporary senior deputy registrar should be appointed.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred on him by subsection (1), the Chief Justice may appoint a temporary senior deputy registrar for a specified period only.

(3) The Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a temporary senior deputy registrar at any time.

(4) A temporary senior deputy registrar may be called Master.

(5) In this section and section 40A, "temporary senior deputy registrar" (暫委高級副司法常務官) means a

person appointed under subsection (1) to be a temporary senior deputy registrar. (Added 10 of 2005 s. 134)

Section:	37A	Appointment of temporary deputy registrars	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1) The Chief Justice may appoint a person who is eligible under section 37AA(3) to be appointed as a deputy registrar to be a temporary deputy registrar if- (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 135)

(a) the office of any deputy registrar becomes vacant for any reason; or

(b) he considers that the interest of the administration of justice requires that a temporary deputy registrar should be appointed.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred on him by subsection (1), the Chief Justice may appoint a temporary deputy registrar for a specified period only.

(3) The Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a temporary deputy registrar at any time.

(4) A temporary deputy registrar may be called Master.

(5) In this section and section 40A, "temporary deputy registrar" (暫委副司法常務官) means a person

appointed under subsection (1) to be a temporary deputy registrar. (Added 1 of 1997 s. 5)

Section:	37B	Appointment of temporary assistant registrars	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1) The Chief Justice may appoint a person who is eligible under section 37AA(4) to be appointed as an assistant registrar to be a temporary assistant registrar if- (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 136)

(a) the office of any assistant registrar becomes vacant for any reason; or

(b) he considers that the interest of the administration of justice requires that a temporary assistant registrar should be appointed.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred on him by subsection (1), the Chief Justice may appointed a temporary assistant registrar for a specified period only.

(3) The Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a temporary assistant registrar at any time.

(4) A temporary assistant registrar may be called Master.

(5) In this section and section 40A, "temporary assistant registrar" (暫委助理司法常務官) means a person

appointed under subsection (1) to be a temporary assistant registrar. (Added 1 of 1997 s. 5)

Section:	38	Jurisdiction, powers and duties of Registrar	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The Registrar shall have and may exercise and perform

(a) the same jurisdiction, powers and duties as the Masters, Registrars and like officers of the Supreme Court of England and Wales; and

(b) such other jurisdiction, powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed on him by or under rules of court or any other law.

(2) Subject to rules of court, all the jurisdiction, powers and duties conferred or imposed on the Registrar may

be had, exercised or performed by a Master. (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 30)

Section:	38A	Bailiff	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

There shall be a bailiff of the High Court together with such assistant bailiffs as may be appointed, to effect, in accordance with rules of court, orders for committal and for service and execution of the process of the Court. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 31. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	39	Protection of Registrar	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) No action shall be brought against the Registrar for-

(a) any act done or omitted to be done by any bailiff without directions from the Registrar; or

(b) any direction given to any bailiff with regard to the execution or non-execution of process if

(i) such directions are in accordance with an order from the Court of First Instance under section 40; and (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(ii) no material fact is wilfully misrepresented or suppressed by the Registrar.

(2) In this section-"Registrar" (司法常務官) includes a Master. (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 32)

Section:	40	Registrar may apply for order	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

The Registrar may, in case of doubt or difficulty, apply summarily to the Court of First Instance for an order for the direction and guidance of a bailiff, and the Court of First Instance may make such order in the matter as may seem just and reasonable.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	40A	Powers of temporary registrar, etc. in case which is part-heard on termination of appointment	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1) If the hearing of any proceedings before a temporary registrar is adjourned or he reserves judgment in any proceedings, the temporary registrar shall have power to resume the hearing and determine the proceedings or deliver judgment, notwithstanding that his appointment as a temporary registrar has expired or has been terminated.

(2) Subsection (1) shall apply to a temporary senior deputy registrar, temporary deputy registrar or temporary assistant registrar as it applies to a temporary registrar.

Cap 4 - HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

(Added 1 of 1997 s. 6. Amended 10 of 2005 s. 137)

Section:	41	Power of Court of First Instance to order disclosure, etc. of documents before commencement of proceedings	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

PART VI

DISCOVERY AND RELATED PROCEDURES

(3): Subsections (1) and (2) are without prejudice to the exercise by the Court of First Instance of any power to make orders which is exercisable apart from those provisions.

Section:	42	Extension of powers of Court of First Instance to order disclosure of documents, inspection of property, etc.	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(4) In this section-

"property" (財產) includes any land, chattel or other corporeal property of any description. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1970 c. 31 s. 32 U.K.]

Section:	43	Provisions supplementary to sections 41 and 42	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) The power to make rules of court under section 54 shall include power to make rules of court as to the circumstances in which an order under section 41 or 42 can be made; and any such rules may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the Rules Committee may consider necessary or expedient.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), rules of court shall be made for the purpose of ensuring that the costs of and incidental to proceedings for an order under sections 41 and 42 incurred by the person against whom the order is sought shall be awarded to that person unless the Court of First Instance otherwise directs. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(3) (Repealed 3 of 2008 s. 18) [cf. 1970 c. 31 s. 33 U.K.]

Section:	44	Powers of Court of First Instance exercisable before commencement of action	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) On the application of any person in accordance with rules of court, the Court of First Instance shall, in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, have power to make an order providing for any one or more of the following matters- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a) the inspection, photographing, preservation, custody and detention of property which appears to the Court to be property which may become the subject matter of subsequent proceedings in the Court, or as to which any question may arise in any such proceedings; and

(b) the taking of samples of any such property as is mentioned in paragraph (a) and the carrying out of any experiment on or with any such property.

(2) The power to make rules of court shall include power to make rules of court as to the manner in which an application for such an order can be made, and as to the circumstances in which such an order can be made; and any such rules may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the Rules Committee may consider necessary or expedient.

(3) In this section-

"property" (財產) includes any land, chattel or other corporeal property of any description. [cf. 1969 c. 58 s. 21 U.K.]

Section:	44A	Withdrawal of privilege against incrimination of self or spouse in certain proceedings	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) In any proceedings to which this subsection applies a person shall not be excused, by reason that to do so may tend to expose that person, or the wife or husband of that person, to proceedings for a related offence or for the recovery of a related penalty

(a) from answering any question put to that person in the first mentioned proceedings; or

(b) from complying with any order made in those proceedings.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to the following civil proceedings in the Court of First Instance, namely- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a) proceedings for infringement of rights pertaining to any intellectual property or for passing off;

(b) proceedings brought to obtain disclosure of information relating to any infringement of such rights or to any passing off; and

(3) Subject to subsection (4), no statement or admission made by a person on or after the commencement of the Supreme Court (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 1982 (52 of 1982)

(a) in answering a question put to him in any proceedings to which subsection (1) applies; or

(b) in complying with any order made in any such proceedings, shall, in proceedings for any related offence or for the recovery of any related penalty, be admissible in evidence against that person or (unless they married after the making of the statement or admission) against the wife or husband of that person.

(4) Nothing in subsection (3) shall render any statement or admission made by a person as there mentioned inadmissible in evidence against that person in proceedings for perjury or contempt of court.

(5) In this section-"intellectual property" (知識產權 ) means any patent, trade mark, copyright, registered design, technical or

commercial information or other intellectual property; "related offence" (相關罪行), in relation to any proceedings to which subsection (1) applies, means-

(a) in the case of proceedings within subsection (2)(a) or (b)-

(i) any offence committed by or in the course of the infringement or passing off to which those proceedings relate; or

(ii) any offence not within sub-paragraph (i) committed in connection with that infringement or passing off, being an offence involving fraud or dishonesty;

(b) in the case of proceedings within subsection (2)(c), any offence revealed by the facts on which the

plaintiff relies in those proceedings; "related penalty" (相關罰金), in relation to any proceedings to which subsection (1) applies, means-

(a) in the case of proceedings within subsection (2)(a) or (b), any penalty incurred in respect of any thing done or omitted in connection with the infringement or passing off to which those proceedings relate;

(b) in the case of proceedings within subsection (2)(c), any penalty incurred in respect of any act or omission revealed by the facts on which the plaintiff relies in those proceedings.

(6) Any reference in this section to civil proceedings in the Court of First Instance of any description includes a reference to proceedings on appeal arising out of civil proceedings in the Court of First Instance of that description. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(Added 52 of 1982 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 72 U.K.]

(1) Section 44 shall bind the Government so far as it relates to property (within the meaning of that section) as to which it appears to the Court of First Instance that it may become the subject matters of subsequent proceedings. (Amended 3 of 2008 s. 19)

(2) Sections 41, 42 and 43 shall bind the Government.

(3) The Court of First Instance shall not make an order under section 41, 42 or 44 if it considers that compliance with the order, if made, would be likely to be injurious to the public interest.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2; 29 of 1998 s. 105) [cf. 1970 c. 31 s. 35 U.K.]

Remarks: Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2 PART VII MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Writs

(Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 35)

(1) All writs other than the writs listed in the Schedule are abolished.

(2) The writs listed in the Schedule shall be issued according to the common law except to the extent that the

common law is modified by any enactment. (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 36)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Interest

(1) Subject to rules of court, in proceedings (whenever instituted) before the Court of First Instance for the recovery of a debt or damages there may be included in any sum for which judgment is given simple interest, at such rate as the Court thinks fit or as rules of court may provide, on all or any part of the debt or damages in respect of which judgment is given, or payment is made before judgment, for all or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and-(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a) in the case of any sum paid before judgment, the date of the payment; and

(b) in the case of the sum for which judgment is given, the date of the judgment.

(2) In relation to a judgment given for damages for personal injuries or death which exceed $30000 subsection

(1) shall have effect

(a) with the substitution of "shall be included" for "may be included"; and

(b) with the addition of "unless the Court is satisfied that there are special reasons to the contrary" after "given", where it first occurs.

(3) Subject to rules of court, where-

(a) there are proceedings (whenever instituted) before the Court of First Instance for the recovery of a debt; and (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(b) the defendant pays the whole debt to the plaintiff (otherwise than in pursuance of a judgment in the

proceedings), the defendant shall be liable to pay the plaintiff interest at such rate as the Court thinks fit or as rules of court may provide on all or any part of the debt for all or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and the date of the payment.

(4) Interest in respect of a debt shall not be awarded under this section for a period during which, for whatever reason, interest on the debt already runs.

(5) Interest under this section may be calculated at different rates in respect of different periods.

(6) For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that in determining, for the purposes of any enactment contained in Part IV of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336), whether an amount exceeds, or is less than, a sum specified in that Part, no account shall be taken of any power exercisable by virtue of this section or of any order made in the exercise of such a power.

(7) Nothing in this section affects the damages recoverable for the dishonour of a bill of exchange.

(8) In this section-"defendant" (被告人) means the person from whom the plaintiff seeks the debt or damages; "personal injuries" (人身傷害) includes any disease and any impairment of a person's physical or mental condition;

and

"plaintiff" (原告人) means the person seeking the debt or damages. (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 37) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 35A U.K.]

Section:	49	Interest on judgments	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Judgment debts shall carry simple interest-

(a) at such rate as the Court of First Instance may order; or (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(b) in the absence of such order, at such rate as may be determined from time to time by the Chief Justice

by order, on the aggregate amount thereof, or on such part thereof as for the time being remains unsatisfied from the date of the judgment until satisfaction.

(2) Interest under this section may be calculated at different rates in respect of different periods. (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 38)

Section:	50	Appeal in cases of contempt of court	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Contempt of Court

(1) Subject to this section, an appeal shall lie from any order or decision of a court, other than the Court of Appeal, in the exercise of jurisdiction to punish for contempt of court, including criminal contempt; and in relation to any such order or decision this section shall have effect in substitution for any other law relating to appeals in civil or criminal proceedings.

(2) An appeal under this section shall lie to the Court of Appeal in any case at the instance of the person against whom the proceedings for contempt of court were brought or the order was made and, in the case of an application for committal or attachment, at the instance of the applicant.

(3) The Court of Appeal may on appeal reverse or vary the order or decision of a court, and make such other order as may be just; and without prejudice to the powers of any court to grant bail, provision may be made by rules of court for authorizing the release on bail of an appellant under this section.

(4) In this section-

(a) "court" (法庭) includes any tribunal or person having power to punish for contempt; and

(b) references to an order or decision of a court in the exercise of jurisdiction to punish for contempt of court include references to an order or decision of any court under any law enabling the court to deal with an offence as if it were contempt of court.

(5) This section does not apply to a conviction or sentence in respect of which an appeal lies under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221), or to a decision of the Court of Appeal under that Ordinance; and for the purposes of that Ordinance and of this subsection an order for the punishment of any person for contempt of court in proceedings in which he has a right of appeal against his sentence shall be treated as part of that sentence.

[cf. 1960 c. 65 s. 13 U.K.]

Section:	51	Seal of High Court	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Seal, Expenses and Costs

(Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 35)

(1) The High Court shall use such seal as the Chief Justice may direct. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) All writs, judgments, orders, documents and exemplifications or copies thereof, shall be sealed with such seal.

(3) Any writ, judgment, order, document and any exemplification or copy thereof, shall, when purporting to be so sealed, be admitted in evidence in any criminal or civil proceedings before any court on its production without further proof.

(Replaced 44 of 1982 s. 4)

Section:	52	Expenses	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

In any proceedings in the High Court, a judge may order the reimbursement of a witness in respect of any expenses reasonably and properly incurred by that witness. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	52A	Costs in Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal in its civil jurisdiction	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) Subject to the provisions of rules of court, the costs of and incidental to all proceedings in the Court of Appeal in its civil jurisdiction and in the Court of First Instance, including the administration of estates and trusts, shall be in the discretion of the Court, and the Court shall have full power to determine by whom and to what extent the costs are to be paid. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance may, in accordance with rules of court, make an order awarding costs against a person who is not a party to the relevant proceedings, if the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance, as the case may be, is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so. (Replaced 3 of 2008 s. 31)

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) shall alter the practice in any criminal cause or matter, or in bankruptcy.

(4) In any civil proceedings before it, the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance may, in accordance with rules of court, by order disallow, or order the legal representative concerned to meet, the whole or any part of any wasted costs. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 22)

(5) When determining whether or not to make an order under subsection (4), the Court of Appeal or the Court of First instance shall, in addition to all other relevant circumstances, take into account the interest that there be fearless advocacy under the adversarial system of justice. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 22)

(6) In subsection (4), “wasted costs” (虛耗訟費) means any costs incurred by a party as a result of— (a) an improper or unreasonable act or omission; or

(b) any undue delay or other misconduct or default, on the part of any legal representative, whether personally or through an employee or agent of the legal representative. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 22)

(7) In this section, “legal representative” (法律代表), in relation to a party to any proceedings, means a counsel or solicitor conducting litigation on behalf of the party. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 22)

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 39) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 51 U.K.]

Section:	52B	Costs-only proceedings	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) This section applies where—

(a) the parties to a dispute have agreed on all the issues in dispute, including who is to pay the costs of and incidental to the dispute;

(b) the agreement has been made or confirmed in writing;

(d) the parties have failed to agree on the amount of the costs of and incidental to the dispute.

(2) Subject to any other Ordinance, either party to the agreement may commence proceedings for an order for the costs of and incidental to the dispute, in accordance with rules of court.

(3) In any proceedings commenced under subsection (2) or transferred to the Court of First Instance under section 53B of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336), the Court of First Instance may—

(a) make an order for the costs of and incidental to the dispute to be taxed or assessed;

(b) make an order awarding costs to or against any party to the proceedings; and

(c) make an order awarding costs against a person who is not a party to the proceedings, if it is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

(4) A reference to costs in subsection (3)(b) and (c) is a reference to the costs of and incidental to the proceedings commenced under subsection (2) or transferred to the Court of First Instance under section 53B of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336).

(5) In subsection (3), “Court of First Instance” (原訟法庭) includes the Registrar and a Master. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 3)

(1) The Court of First Instance may, either of its own motion or on the application of any party, order the transfer of proceedings commenced under section 52B(2) to the District Court.

(2) An order may be made under this section at any stage of the proceedings. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 3)

(1) Where the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance has made an award of costs under section 52A(1) or (2) or 52B(3), it may order that those costs be taxed in accordance with—

(a) the First Schedule and the Second Schedule to Order 62 of the Rules of the High Court (Cap 4 sub. leg. A); or

(b) Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 to Order 62 of the Rules of the District Court (Cap 336 sub. leg. H).

(2) Where an award of costs under section 52B(3) is made by the Registrar or a Master, the power of the Court of First Instance under subsection (1) in relation to those costs may be exercised by the Registrar or that Master (as the case may be).

Section:	52C	Transfer of costs-only proceedings to District Court	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

Section:	52D	Scale of costs on which costs awarded under section 52A or 52B are taxed	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(Added 3 of 2008 s. 3)

Section:	53	Assessors	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Assessors

(1) In any civil proceedings, the Court of First Instance may call to its aid one or more assessors specially qualified and may dispose of such proceedings, wholly or in part, with the aid of such assessor or assessors, but the decision of the judge shall be the decision of the Court of First Instance.

(2) The Court of First Instance may determine the remuneration, if any, to be paid to an assessor in respect of his services: Provided that nothing in this subsection shall authorize the payment of remuneration to any person employed full

time in any office of emolument under the Crown. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	54	Rules of court	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

Rules

(1) The Rules Committee constituted under section 55 may make rules of court regulating and prescribing the procedure (including the method of pleading) and the practice to be followed in the High Court in all causes and matters whatsoever in or with respect to which the High Court has jurisdiction (including the procedure and practice to be followed in the Registries of the High Court) and any matters incidental to or relating to that procedure or practice. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), rules of court may be made for the following

purposes-

(a): prescribing the procedure in connection with the transfer of proceedings between the Court of First Instance and the District Court, and between the Court of First Instance and the Lands Tribunal; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2; 3 of 2008 s. 44)
(b): prescribing the jurisdiction of the High Court which may be exercised by the Registrar or a Master (including provision for appeal against decisions in the exercise of such jurisdiction); (Amended 52 of 1987 s. 40; 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(c): regulating matters relating to the fees and costs of proceedings (including proceedings in connection with the administration of estates and trusts) in the Court of Appeal in its civil jurisdiction and in the Court of First Instance; (Replaced 52 of 1987 s. 40. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(d): (Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 40)
(e): prescribing in what cases persons absent, but having an interest in a cause or matter, shall be bound by any order made therein;
(f): prescribing in what cases and in what manner there may be submissions and references to special referees, how parties shall be bound thereby, and to what extent and with what consequences, and for the appointment, powers and duties of special referees and for proceedings before such special referees;
(g): regulating the appointment and duties of commissioners for oaths, the revocation of such appointments, and matters incidental thereto;
(i): regulating matters which could heretofore be or which have heretofore been provided for or regulated by rules of court;

and any such certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it; and (Added 52 of 1987

s. 40) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 136 U.K.]

(l) prescribing the procedure in cases where an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari is sought, or proceedings are taken for an injunction under section 21J including a requirement that-

(i): except in such cases as may be specified in the rules, leave shall be obtained before an application is made for any such order or before any such proceedings are commenced; and
(ii): where leave is so obtained, no other relief shall be granted and no ground relied upon, except

with the leave of the Court, other than the relief and grounds specified when the application for leave was made. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 40)

(2A) Rules providing for the matters referred to in subsection (2)(k) may contain-

(a): provisions for securing the safe custody and return to the Registry of any document sent to a court or tribunal in pursuance of the rules; and
(b): such incidental and supplementary provisions as appear to the Rules Committee to be necessary or expedient. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 40) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 136 U.K.]

(3) (Repealed 3 of 1989 s. 3)

(4): The power to make rules of court under this section shall include power to make rules as to proceedings by or against the Crown.
(5): Rules of court made under this section shall apply to all proceedings by or against the Crown insofar as they expressly purport so to do.

(1) The rules of court shall be made by a Rules committee which shall consist of

(a): the Chief Judge of the High Court, who shall be chairman; (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 8)
(b): 2 judges of the High Court appointed by the Chief Judge of the High Court; (Replaced 52 of 1982 s. 3. Amended 52 of 1987 s. 41; 25 of 1998 s. 2; 10 of 2005 s. 8)
(c): the Registrar or a Master appointed by the Chief Judge of the High Court to represent the Registrar; (Replaced 52 of 1982 s. 3. Amended 52 of 1987 s. 41; 10 of 2005 s. 8)
(d): 2 barristers nominated by the Hong Kong Bar Association;
(e): 2 solicitors nominated by The Law Society of Hong Kong;
(f): the Secretary for Justice or a legal officer appointed by him. (Added 53 of 1980 s. 2. Amended L.N. 362 of 1997)

(1A) The Registrar or such Master as the Chief Judge of the High Court may appoint under subsection (1)(c) shall be the secretary of the Rules Committee. (Added 52 of 1982 s. 3. Amended 52 of 1987 s. 41; 10 of 2005 s. 8)

(2): 5 members of the Rules Committee shall constitute a quorum if both a barrister and a solicitor are present.
(3): (Repealed 52 of 1987 s. 41)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

The power to make rules of court under section 54 shall include power by any such rules to make provision

(a): for enabling proceedings to be commenced in the Court of First Instance against the estate of a deceased person (whether by the appointment of a person to represent the estate or otherwise) where no grant of probate or administration has been made;
(b): for enabling proceedings purporting to have been commenced in the Court of First Instance by or against a person to be treated, if he was dead at their commencement, as having been commenced by or against, as the case may be, his estate whether or not a grant of probate or administration was made before their commencement; and
(c): for enabling any proceedings commenced or treated as commenced in the Court of First Instance by or against the estate of a deceased person to be maintained (whether by substitution of parties, amendment or otherwise) by or against, as the case may be, a person appointed to represent the estate or, if a grant of probate or administration is or has been made, by or against the personal representatives.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 42. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) [cf. 1981 c. 54 s. 87(2) U.K.]

(9) Provision may be made by rules made by virtue of this section as to the conditions subject to which oral expert evidence may be given in civil proceedings.
(10): Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (9) rules made in pursuance of that subsection may make provision for prohibiting a party who fails to comply with a direction given as mentioned in subsection (8)(b) from adducing, except with the leave of the Court, any oral expert evidence whatsoever with respect to matters of any class specified in the direction.
(11): Any rules made by virtue of this section may make different provision for different classes of cases, for expert reports dealing with matters of different classes, and for other different circumstances.

(12) In this section references to an expert report are references to a written report by a person dealing wholly or

mainly with matters on which he is (or would if living be) qualified to give expert evidence. (Added 52 of 1987 s. 42)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) In this section-"stop order" (停止令) means an order of the Court of First Instance prohibiting the taking, in respect of any of the securities specified in the order, of any of the steps mentioned in subsection (4); (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

"stop notice" (停止通知書) means a notice requiring any person on whom it is duly served to refrain from taking, in respect of any of the securities specified in the notice, any of the steps mentioned in subsection (4) without first notifying the person by whom, or on whose behalf, the notice was served; and

"prescribed securities" (訂明的保證物) means securities (including funds in court) of a kind prescribed by rules of court made by virtue of this section.

(2) The power to make rules of court under section 54 shall include power by any such rules to make provision

(a) for the Court to make a stop order on the application of any person claiming to be entitled to an interest in prescribed securities; and

(b) for the service of a stop notice by any person claiming to be entitled to an interest in prescribed securities.

(3) Rules of court made by virtue of this section shall prescribe the person on whom a copy of any stop order or stop notice is to be served.

(4) The steps mentioned in subsection (1) are-

(a) the registration of any transfer of the securities;

(b) in the case of funds in court, the transfer, sale, delivery out, payment or other dealing with the funds, or of the income thereon;

(d) in the case of a unit trust, any acquisition of or other dealing with the units by any person or body exercising functions under the trust.

(5) Any rules of court made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplemental and consequential provisions as the Rules Committee considers necessary or expedient, and may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case.

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 42) [cf. 1979 c. 53 s. 5 U.K.]

(1) Notwithstanding sections 49 and 52A, the power to make rules of court under section 54 includes power to make provision for enabling the Registrar, in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, to—

(a) disallow all or part of any costs to be taxed pursuant to a costs order made by the Court of First Instance or the Court of Appeal;

(b) disallow all or part of any interest otherwise payable under section 49 on taxed costs, or reduce the period for which such interest is payable or the rate prescribed in section 49 at which such interest is payable; and

(2) Any rules made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential

provisions as the Rules Committee may consider necessary or expedient. (Added 3 of 2008 s. 33)

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) The power to make rules of court under section 54 shall include power to make provision for enabling the High Court in such circumstances as may be specified to make an order requiring a party to pending proceedings to make an interim payment of such amount as may be specified in the order, either by payment into court or (if the order so provides) by paying it to another party to the proceedings. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(2) Where any such rules make provision in accordance with subsection (1), the rules may include provision for enabling a party to any proceedings who, in pursuance of such an order, has made an interim payment to recover the whole or part of the amount of the payment in such circumstances, and from such other party to the proceedings, as may be determined in accordance with the rules.

(3) Any rules made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the Rules Committee may consider necessary or expedient.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the exercise of any power relating to costs, including any power to make rules of court relating to costs.

(5) In this section-

(a) "interim payment" (中期付款), in relation to a party to any proceedings, means a payment on account of any damages, debt or other sum (excluding any costs) which that party may be held liable to pay to

or for the benefit of another party to the proceedings if a final judgment or order of the Court in the proceedings is given or made in favour of that other party; and

(b) any reference to a party to any proceedings includes a reference to any person who for the purposes of the proceedings acts as next friend or guardian of a party to the proceedings.

(6) This section shall bind the Crown so far as any proceedings to which the section is applicable can be

brought by or against the Crown in accordance with the Crown Proceedings Ordinance (Cap 300). [cf. 1969 c. 58 s. 20 U.K.]

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) This section applies to an action for damages for personal injuries in which there is proved or admitted to be a chance that at some definite or indefinite time in the future the injured person will, as a result of the act or omission which gave rise to the cause of action, develop some serious disease or suffer some serious deterioration in his physical or mental condition.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), as regards any action for damages to which this section applies in which a judgment is given in the Court of First Instance, provision may be made by rules of court for enabling the Court, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to award the injured person- (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(a) damages assessed on the assumption that the injured person will not develop the disease or suffer the deterioration in his condition; and

(b) further damages at a future date if he develops the disease or suffers the deterioration.

(3) Any rules made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the rule-making authority may consider necessary or expedient, and may provide for the injured person to elect whether or not to accept an award of damages assessed in accordance with such rules.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed-

(a) as affecting the exercise of any power relating to costs, including any power to make rules of court relating to costs; or

(b) as prejudicing any duty of the Court under any enactment or rule of law to reduce or limit the total damages which would have been recoverable apart from any such duty.

(Added 40 of 1986 s. 5) [cf. 1982 c. 53 s. 6 U.K.]

(1) The Chief Judge of the High Court may make rules for regulating- (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 11)

(a) the deposit, payment, delivery, and transfer in, into, and out of the High Court of money, securities, and movable property of suitors; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(b) the evidence of such deposit, payment, delivery, or transfer, and the investment of and other dealings with money, securities, and movable property in court;

(d) the powers and duties of the Registrar with reference to such money, securities, and property.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, rules made under this section may provide for-

(a) regulating the placing on and withdrawal from deposit of money in court, and the payment or crediting of interest on money placed on deposit;

(b) determining the smallest amount of money on deposit on which interest is to be credited to an account to which money placed on deposit belongs;

(c) determining the time at which money placed on deposit is to begin and to cease to bear interest and the mode of computing such interest;

(d) determining the cases in which money placed on deposit is to begin and to cease to bear interest and the mode of computing such interest;

(e) determining the cases in which interest on money placed on deposit and the dividends on any securities standing in the name of the Registrar is or are to be placed on deposit; and

(f) disposing of money, other than the balance of an intestate estate, remaining unclaimed in court or money remaining unclaimed in the Bankruptcy Estates Account established under section 128 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap 6).

(3) For the purposes of this section "suitors" (訴訟人) includes any party to arbitration proceedings who makes payment of money into the High Court in accordance with rules of court. (Added 43 of 1982 s. 3. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	58	(Had its effect)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks: Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2 PART VIII GENERAL (Had its effect)

Section:	59	Amendment of references in laws to Full Court and High Court	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

In any law, unless the context otherwise requires-

(a): for any reference to the Full Court, there shall be substituted a reference to the Court of Appeal;
(b): for any reference to the High Court, there shall be substituted a reference to the Court of First Instance; and
(c): any reference to a judge or officer of the Full Court or the High Court shall be construed as a reference

to a judge or officer of the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance, respectively. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Section:	60	(Omitted as spent)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(Omitted as spent)

Section:	61	(Spent)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(Spent)

Section:	62	(Spent)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(Spent)

Schedule:		SCHEDULE	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 25 of 1998 s. 2

[section 46]

Cap 4 - HIGH COURT ORDINANCE

WRITS

(1): Writ of Summons
(2): Writ of Subpoena
(3): Writ of Fieri Facias
(4): Writ of Possession
(5): Writ of Delivery
(6): Writ of Sequestration
(7): Writ of Assistance
(8): Writ of Restitution
(9): Writ of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum (10)-(11) (Repealed 95 of 1997 s. 6)

(Added 52 of 1987 s. 43)

章： 4 高等法院條例

章：	4	高等法院條例	憲報編號	版本日期

		詳題	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

高等法院條例 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

本條例旨在修訂並綜合關於高等法院的組成、司法管轄權、常規及權力及關於在高等法院執行司法工作的法律，並就附帶及相關的事宜訂定條文。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

[1976年2月20日] 1976年第50號法律公告

(本為1975年第92號)

條：	1	簡稱	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條
第I部
導言
本條例可引稱為《高等法院條例》。		(由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	2	釋義	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

在本條例中，除文意另有所指外─

“一方”、“方”(party)包括每一名就任何法律程序獲送達通知書或出席法律程序的人，即使其姓名或名稱並非列於有關紀錄之上；

“人身保護令狀”(writ of habeas corpus) 指解交被拘押者並說明其拘押日期及原因令狀； (由1997年第95號第2條增補)

“土地”(land) 包括─

(a) 有水淹蓋的土地；

(b) 任何土地或其上的任何產業權、權利、權益或地役權；及

條代替) “上訴”(appeal) 就向行使民事司法管轄權的上訴法庭提出的上訴的情況而言，包括─

(a) 要求重新審訊的申請；及

(b)要求將曾由陪審團審訊的原訟法庭的訟案或事宜的裁決、裁斷或判決作廢或將有爭論

點曾由陪審團審訊的此等訟案或事宜的裁決、裁斷或判決作廢的申請； (由1987年第52號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

“上訴法庭法官”(Justice of Appeal) 包括根據第5(2)條以上訴法庭額外法官身分進行聆訊的原訟法庭法官； (由1987年第52號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

“司法常務官”(Registrar) 指高等法院司法常務官； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

“判決”(judgment) 包括判令；

“事宜”(matter) 包括每一項不在訟案內的法律程序；

“訂明”(prescribed) 指由法院規則訂明；

“政府證券”(Government stock)指由政府發行的任何證券或政府的任何基金或政府授予的任何年金； (由1987年第52號第2條增補)

“原告人”(plaintiff) 包括所有以任何形式的法律程序(不論是藉訴訟、起訴、呈請、動議、傳票或其他形式的法律程序)針對任何其他人要求任何濟助的人(以被告人身分藉反申索要求濟助的人除外)；

“原訟法庭”(Court of First Instance) 指高等法院原訟法庭； (由1998年第25號第2條增補)

“被告人”(defendant) 包括獲送達任何傳訊令狀或法律程序文件的人，或就任何法律程序獲送達通知書的人，或有權出席任何法律程序的人；

“特委法官”(recorder)指根據第6A條委任的原訟法庭特委法官； (由1994年第80號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

“訟案”(cause) 指任何訴訟或任何刑事法律程序； (由1987年第52號第2條代替)

“聆案官”(Master) 具有第37、37AC、37A及37B條給予該詞的涵義； (由1987年第52號第2條增補。由1997年第1號第3條修訂；由2005年第10號第164條修訂)

“登記處”(Registry) 指高等法院的任何登記處； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

“訴訟”(action) 指藉傳訊令狀或以任何法律訂明的其他方式展開的民事法律程序；

“暫委法官”(deputy judge) 指根據第10(1)條委任的原訟法庭暫委法官； (由1983年第49號第2條增

補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) “羈留”(detention) 包括每一種形式的對人身自由的約制。 (由1997年第95號第2條增補) (由1983年第49號第2條修訂；由1997年第95號第2條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第II部

高等法院 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(1) 現設立香港特別行政區高等法院，由原訟法庭及上訴法庭組成。
(2) 除本條例條文另有規定外，高等法院是具有無限民事及刑事司法管轄權的法院。 (由1997年第110號第8條代替)

條：	4	原訟法庭的組成	79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 原訟法庭由以下人員組成─

(a) 高等法院首席法官； (由1995年第79號第50條修訂)

(b) 總督委任的法官； (由1994年第80號第3條修訂)
(ba) 總督委任的特委法官；及 (由1994年第80號第3條增補)

(2)凡原訟法庭的事務有此需要，上訴法庭法官可在原訟法庭開庭並以原訟法庭法官身分行事，而在該情況下他具有原訟法庭法官的所有司法管轄權、權力及特權。

(3) (由1987年第52號第4條廢除) (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	5	上訴法庭的組成	79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 上訴法庭由以下人員組成─

(a) 高等法院首席法官；及

(b) 總督委任的上訴法庭法官。

(1A) 高等法院首席法官可委任一名或多於一名上訴法庭法官為上訴法庭副庭長。 (由1987年第52號第5條增補)

(2)原訟法庭法官應終審法院首席法官之請，可以上訴法庭額外法官身分進行聆訊，而在該情況下他具有上訴法庭法官的所有司法管轄權、權力及特權。

(3)高等法院首席法官是上訴法庭庭長，如他因任何因由而缺席，則擔任庭長職位的人選須按

照第7條所訂明的排名的次序而決定。 (由1995年第79號第50條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	6	法官的委任	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)高等法院法官須由總督按照透過一名國務大臣而接獲的指示，以蓋有公印的《英皇制誥》委任，但以下的高等法院法官除外─

(a) 根據第8(1)或(2)條委任的法官； (由1994年第80號第4條修訂)
(aa) 特委法官； (由1994年第80號第4條增補。由1997年第26號第2條修訂)

(b) 暫委法官；及 (由1983年第49號第3條修訂；由1997年第26號第2條修訂)

(2) (由1994年第80號第4條廢除) (由1998年第25號第2條修訂) 附註：

條：	6A	特委法官的委任	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)總督可委任一名根據第9(1)或(1A)條有資格獲委任為高等法院法官的人為原訟法庭特委法官，任期按藉以作出該委任的文書所指明者而定。 (由1997年第1號第4條修訂)

(2) 根據第(1)款作出的委任─

(a) 如屬首次委任某人為特委法官，須藉蓋有公印的《英皇制誥》作出；
(b)如屬再次委任或繼後委任以前曾獲委任的人，須藉總督認為適合的其他經由總督簽署的文書作出。

特委法官具有並可行使原訟法庭法官的所有司法管轄權、權力及特權，亦具有並須執行原

訟法庭法官的所有職責，而任何法律中凡提述此等法官之處，須據此而解釋。 (由1994年第80號第5條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	6B	大法官及特委大法官的委任可具追溯效力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)除第(2)款另有規定外，任何根據第6(1)或6A(1)條作出的委任，可在藉以作出該委任的《英皇制誥》的日期前某一日期開始生效。

(2)第(1)款不得當作授權任何獲如此委任的人，在《英皇制誥》的日期前或在《宣誓及聲明條

例》(第11章)第17條的規定獲遵從之前，履行任何司法職能。 (由1994年第80號第5條增補)

條：	7	排名	79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 高等法院法官的排名須按以下次序編排─

(a) 高等法院首席法官； (由1995年第79號第50條修訂)

(aa)上訴法庭副庭長，而他們之間的排名須按他們獲委任為副庭長的日期先後決定； (由1987年第52號第6條增補)

(b)上訴法庭法官(副庭長除外)，而他們之間的排名須按他們獲委任該職的日期先後決定； (由1987年第52號第6條修訂)

但總督如認為有足夠理由如此行事，可不理會特委法官的委任日期先後而決定他們的排名； (由1994年第80號第6條增補)

(d) 暫委法官，而他們之間的排名須按他們獲委任該職的日期先後決定：但總督如認為有足夠理由如此行事，可不理會暫委法官的委任日期先後而決定他

們的排名。 (由1983年第49號第4條修訂)

(2) 儘管第(1)(b)及(c)款已有規定，國務大臣如認為有足夠理由如此行事，仍可不理會上訴法庭

法官或原訟法庭法官(視屬何情況而定)的委任日期先後而決定他們的排名。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

如高等法院首席法官或任何上訴法庭法官的職位因該法官死亡或其他原因而懸空，總督可委任另一名根據第9條有資格獲委任為高等法院法官的人署理該職位，直至空缺獲得填補為止。
如高等法院首席法官或任何上訴法庭法官暫時患病或缺席，總督可委任另一名根據第9條有資格獲委任為高等法院法官的人，署理首席法官或該名上訴法庭法官的職位，直至首席法官或該名上訴法庭法官恢復執行職責為止。

(3)任何根據第(1)或(2)款作出的委任，可在藉以作出該委任的文書的日期前某一日期開始生

效。 (由1994年第80號第7條增補) (由1987年第52號第7條修訂；由1995年第79號第50條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(1) 任何人如符合以下條件，即有資格獲委任為高等法院法官─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a)該人在香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院有資格執業為大律師或訟辯人，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的；或 (由1997年第14號第2條修訂)

(b) 該人具有(a)段所述的資格，而在此之前則有資格在上述法院之一執業為律師，而在上述任何一種情況中，該人在上述法院之一執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人最少已有10年。 (由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

(1A)任何人如有資格執業為高等法院律師，並如此執業最少已有10年，亦有資格獲委任為高等法院法官。 (由1995年第52號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

(2) 任何人如符合以下條件，亦有資格獲委任為高等法院法官─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a)該人在香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院有資格執業為大律師或訟辯人，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的；或 (由1997年第14號第2條修訂；由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

(b) 該人具有(a)段所述的資格，而在此之前則有資格在上述法院之一執業為律師，而在上述任何一種情況中，在符合第(3)款的規定下，該人最少曾有10年是─

(i)-(iii) (由1997年第14號第2條廢除)

(iv)按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第4或7條委任的區域法院法官； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂) (iva)按照《香港終審法院條例》(第484章)第42條委任的香港終審法院司法常務官； (由2005年第10號第132條增補) (ivb)按照第37條委任的司法常務官、高級副司法常務官、副司法常務官或助理司法常務官； (由2005年第10號第132條增補)

(ivc)按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第14條委任的區域法院司法常務官、區域法院副司法常務官或區域法院助理司法常務官； (由2005年第10號第132條增補)

(v) 按照《裁判官條例》(第227章)第5條委任的常任裁判官； (由2005年第10號第132條修訂) (va) 按照《死因裁判官條例》(第504章)第3條委任的死因裁判官； (由2005年第10號第132條增補) (vb) 按照《小額錢債審裁處條例》(第338章)第4條委任的審裁官； (由2005年第10號第132條

增補) (vc) 按照《勞資審裁處條例》(第25章)第4條委任的審裁官； (由2005年第10號第132條增補)

(vi) 《律政人員條例》(第87章)第2條所界定的律政人員；

(vii) (由1993年第8號第6條廢除)

(viii) 按照《法律援助條例》(第91章)第3條委任的法律援助署署長、法律援助署副署長、法律援助署助理署長或法律援助主任； (由1976年第50號第2條增補。由1983年第24號第7條修訂；由1992年第39號第8條修訂；由1992年第60號第3條修訂；由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

(ix)按照《破產條例》(第6章)第75條委任的破產管理署署長、助理破產管理署署長(法律)、助理首席律師、高級律師或律師；或 (由1992年第39號第8條增補。由1992年第60號第3條修訂；由1995年第68號第17條修訂)

(x)按照《知識產權署署長(設立)條例》(第412章)第3條委任的知識產權署署長、知識產權署副署長、知識產權署助理署長、高級律師或律師。(由1992年第60號第3條增補。由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

(2A) 任何人如符合以下條件，亦有資格獲委任為高等法院法官─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a)該人是香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院的律師，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的； (由1997年第14號第2條修訂)

(b)該人最少在過去2年內及在現時(而總計最少有5年)受僱於香港官方從事司法或法律工作；及

(i) 在該等法院之一執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人；或 (由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

(ii) 受僱從事(b)段所描述的服務。 (由1982年第44號第2條增補)

為計算第(2)款所提述的10年期間，可將在該款第(iv)至(x)段其中任何一段範圍以內各段不足10年的期間合併計算，並可將在第(2)(a)款所提述的任何一所法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人的期間計算在內。 (由1976年第50號第2條修訂；由1992年第39號第8條修訂；由1992年第60號第3條修訂；由1997年第14號第2條修訂；由2005年第10號第132條修訂)
為計算第(2A)(c)款所提述的10年期間，可將在第(2)款第(iv)至(x)段其中任何一段範圍以內各段不足10年的期間計算在內，並可將在第(2A)(c)款第(i)及(ii)節範圍以內的各段不足10年的期間合併計算。 (由1982年第44號第2條增補。由1992年第39號第8條修訂；由1992年第60號第3條修訂；由1997年第14號第2條修訂)
(5) 為計算第(2)款所指的10年期間，儘管《註冊總署署長(人事編制)條例》(第100章)已被廢除，擔任該已被廢除條例附表1第I部所指明的職位的期間仍可計算在內。 (由1993年第8號第6條增補。由2005年第10號第132條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

如有以下情況，終審法院首席法官可委任一名根據第9條有資格獲委任為高等法院法官的人為原訟法庭暫委法官─ (由1982年第44號第3條修訂)
(a) 任何原訟法庭法官的職位因任何理由而懸空；或

(b) 終審法院首席法官認為為了執行司法工作的利益，有需要暫時委任一名暫委法官。 (1A)除第(1B)款另有規定外，任何根據第(1)款作出的委任，可在藉以作出該委任的文書的日期前某一日期開始生效。 (由1994年第80號第8條增補)
(1B)第(1A)款不得當作授權任何獲如此委任的人，在該文書的日期前或在《宣誓及聲明條例》(第11章)第17條的規定獲遵從之前，履行任何司法職能。 (由1994年第80號第8條增補)

除委任條款另有規定外，暫委法官具有並可行使原訟法庭法官的所有司法管轄權、權力及特權，亦具有並須履行原訟法庭法官的所有職責，而在任何法律中凡提述此等法官之處，須據此而解釋。

(3) 在不損害第(1)款所賦予終審法院首席法官的權力的原則下，終審法院首席法官可─

(a) 只為了某宗指明的案件或某種指明類別的案件根據該款委任一名暫委法官；或
(b) 根據該款委任一名暫委法官，任期只為某段指明的期間。

(4) 儘管第(2)款已有規定，首席法官仍可在任何時間終止一名暫委法官的委任。 (由1983年第49號第5條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	11	終止委任時特委法官及暫委法官在已進行部分聆訊的案件中的權力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

如在特委法官或暫委法官席前進行的任何法律程序的聆訊被押後，或如特委法官或暫委法官在任何法律程序中保留判決，則即使特委法官或暫委法官的委任已屆滿或已終止，特委法官或暫委法官仍具有權力恢復聆訊，並就該等法律程序作出裁定或宣告判決。

(由1983年第49號第5條修訂；由1994年第80號第9條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	11A	法官的任期	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 高等法院法官須於年屆退休年齡時離任。

(2)即使一名出任高等法院法官職位的人已屆退休年齡，為使該人能就在他未屆退休年齡之前已在他席前展開的法律程序宣告判決或作出任何事情，該人仍可在已屆退休年齡後在情況所需的期間內繼續留任。

(3) 儘管有第(1)款的規定─

(a)總督按照司法人員敍用委員會的建議，仍可委任某人為高等法院法官(不論其年齡，亦不論他以前曾否出任上述職位)，其任期為一段或多於一段的指明期間，但總計不得超逾5年；及

(b)高等法院法官(獲根據(a)段委任為法官的人除外)的任期，可由總督按照司法人員敘用委

員會的建議延展一段或多於一段的指明期間，但總計不得超逾5年，而在上述任何一種情況下，該名法官須據此視為在該段或該等指明期間屆滿時已屆退休年齡。

(4) 高等法院法官可隨時藉致予總督的書面通知而辭去其職位。

(5) 在本條中─ “退休年齡”(retiring age) 指65歲；

“高等法院法官”(judge of the High Court) 指一名高等法院法官，但不包括根據第8(1)或(2)條委任的法官，亦不包括特委法官及暫委法官。 (由1997年第26號第3條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	12	原訟法庭的司法管轄權	L.N. 29 of 1999	01/02/1999

第III部

司法管轄權、法律、常規及權力

(1) 原訟法庭是高級紀錄法院。

(2) 原訟法庭的民事司法管轄權由以下各方面組成─

(a)與英格蘭高等司法院的大法官法庭、家事法庭及皇座法庭*所具有並行使的原訟司法管轄權及權限的性質及範圍相類的原訟司法管轄權及權限；及
(b) 任何其他由法律賦予高等法院的司法管轄權，不論是原訟或上訴司法管轄權。

(3) 原訟法庭的刑事司法管轄權由以下各方面組成─

(a)與分別由英格蘭高等司法院及皇室法庭**就刑事事宜所具有並行使的原訟司法管轄權的性質及範圍相類的原訟司法管轄權；及
(b) 任何其他由法律賦予高等法院的司法管轄權，不論是原訟或上訴司法管轄權。

(4) (由1997年第81號第59條廢除) (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

註：

*: “英格蘭高等司法院的大法官法庭、家事法庭及皇座法庭”乃“the Chancery, Family and Queen's Bench Divisions of the High Court of Justice in England”之譯名。

條：	12A	原訟法庭的海事司法管轄權	L.N. 235 of 2009	22/01/2010

為、疏忽或過失負責的任何其他人，而該作為、疏忽或過失，是就船舶的航行或管理而發生，或是就船舶裝上、運送或卸下貨物而發生，或是就任何人登上或離開船舶或船舶運送任何人而發生的；

(g) 就船舶所運送貨物的損失或損壞而提出的任何申索；

(h) 因與船舶運送貨物或船舶的使用或租用有關的任何協議而產生的任何申索；

(i) 任何以下的申索─

(i) 根據1989年救助公約提出者；

(ii) 根據就救助服務而訂立的合約或關於救助服務的合約而提出者；或

(iii) 性質屬於救助(但不屬於第(i)或(ii)節範圍內)者；或任何相對應的關於航空器的申索； (由1997年第35號第9(4)及(5)條代替)

(j) 性質屬於船舶或航空器的拖曳的任何申索；

(k) 性質屬於船舶或航空器的領港的任何申索；

(l) 就供應予船舶作操作或維修用途的貨物或物料而提出的任何申索；

(m) 就船舶的建造、修理或設備或就船塢的收費或應繳費用而提出的任何申索；

(n)船舶的船長或船員就工資(包括從工資中撥出的任何款項，或經總監裁定為須作為工資予以支付的任何款項)而提出的任何申索；

(o) 船長、付運人、承租人或代理人就船舶的代墊付費用而提出的任何申索；

(p) 因一項屬於或聲稱屬於共同海損作為的作為而引致的任何申索；

(q) 因船舶抵押借款而引致的任何申索；

(r) 就船舶的沒收或充公、或就現正或曾經或曾經企圖由船舶運送的貨物的沒收或充公、或就船舶或任何該等貨物在檢取後的歸還、或就海軍特權下的財產而提出的任何申索；

(s) 根據《商船(防止及控制污染)條例》(第413章)第7條而產生的任何申索。 (由1990年第37號第12(2)條代替)

(3) 第(1)(b)款所提述的法律程序是─

(a) 根據以下法令或條例向原訟法庭提出的任何申請─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(i) 適用於香港的1894至1979年《商船法令》*；

(ii) 《商船條例》(第281章)；

(iii) 《商船(安全)條例》(第369章)；

(iv) 《商船(油類污染的法律責任及補償)條例》(第414章)； (由1993年第55號第30條修訂)

(v) 《商船(註冊)條例》(第415章)； (由1990年第74號第104(3)條代替。由1993年第55號第30條修訂；由2005年第24號第55條修訂)

(vi)《商船(限制船東責任)條例》(第434章)； (由1993年第55號第30條增補。由2005年第24號第55條修訂；由2009年第14號第34條修訂)

(vii) 《商船(本地船隻)條例》(第548章)；或 (由2005年第24號第55條増補。由2009年第14號第34條修訂)

(viii) 《燃油污染(法律責任及補償)條例》(第605章)； (由2009年第14號第34條増補)

(b)用以強制執行就以下事宜所產生的損壞、人命損失或人身傷害而提出的申索的任何訴訟─

(i) 船舶之間的碰撞；

(ii) 2艘或多於2艘的船舶中有1艘或多於1艘進行或沒有進行船舶操縱；或

(iii) 2艘或多於2艘的船舶中有1艘或多於1艘不遵從碰撞規例；

(c)船東或其他人根據以下法令或法例而提出的任何訴訟，用以限制他們在與船舶或其他財產相關連的法律責任的款額─

(i) 適用於香港的1894至1979年《商船法令》*；

(ii) (由2005年第24號第55條廢除)

(iii) 《商船(安全)條例》(第369章)； (由1993年第55號第30條修訂)

(iv) 《商船(油類污染的法律責任及補償)條例》(第414章)； (由1993年第55號第30條修訂；由2005年第24號第55條修訂)

(v) 《商船(限制船東責任)條例》(第434章)； (由1993年第55號第30條增補)(由1990年第38號附表2代替。由2005年第24號第55條修訂；由2009年第14號第34條修訂)

(vi)《商船(本地船隻)條例》(第548章)；或 (由2005年第24號第55條増補。由2009年第14號第34條修訂)

(vii) 《燃油污染(法律責任及補償)條例》(第605章)。 (由2009年第14號第34條増補)

(4)原訟法庭根據第(2)(b)款具有的司法管轄權，包括解決各方之間與船舶有關的任何未清及未結算的帳目的權力，指示須將船舶或船舶的任何份額出售的權力，以及作出法院認為適合的其他命令的權力。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(5) 第(2)(e)款擴及─

(a)就根據《商船(油類污染的法律責任及補償)條例》(第414章)第II部招致的法律責任而提出的任何申索； (由2009年第14號第34條修訂)
(b) 就該條例第III部所指的國際油污賠償基金所招致的法律責任而提出的任何申索；及 (由1990年第38號附表2代替。由2009年第14號第34條修訂)
(c)就根據《燃油污染(法律責任及補償)條例》(第605章)第5條招致的法律責任而提出的任何申索。 (由2009年第14號第34條増補)

(6) 在第(2)(i)條中─

(a) “1989年救助公約”(the Salvage Convention 1989) 指《1989年國際救助公約》，以該公約是根據《商船(碰撞損害法律責任及救助)條例》(第508章)第9條而具有效力者而言；
(b)凡提述救助服務，即包括為從船舶上拯救生命而提供的服務，而提述任何根據就救助服務而訂立的合約或關於救助服務的合約而提出的申索，則包括任何產生自上述合約的申索，不論是否在服務期間產生；
(c)凡提述相對應的關於航空器的申索，即為提述與第(2)(i)(i)或(ii)款所述申索相對應的申索，而該申索是根據《民航條例》(第448章)第9條而可予採用的。 (由1997年第35號第9(4)及(5)條代替)

(7) 第(1)至(6)款適用於─

(a)所有船舶或航空器，不論其是否為英國的船舶或航空器，亦不論其是否已經註冊及其東主的居留地或居籍或本籍為何處；
(b)所有申索，不論是在何處產生(如屬貨物或殘骸的救助時，則包括就在陸地上發現的貨物或殘骸而提出的申索)；及
(c) (在與按揭及押記有關時)所有按揭或押記，不論其是否已經註冊，亦不論其是法律按揭或押記或是衡平法按揭或押記，並包括根據外國法律設定的按揭及押記。

(8) 第(7)款不得解釋為擴展可根據以下法令或法例的任何條文追討金錢或財產的案件─

(a) 適用於香港的1894至1979年《商船法令》*；
(b) 《商船條例》(第281章)；
(ba) 《商船(海員)條例》(第478章)； (由1995年第44號第143條增補)
(c) 《商船(安全)條例》(第369章)；

(d) 《商船(油類污染的法律責任及補償)條例》(第414章)； (由1990年第38號附表2代替。由
1993年第55號第30條修訂)

(e) 《商船(註冊)條例》(第415章)； (由1990年第74號第104(3)條增補。由1993年第55號第30條修訂；由2005年第24號第55條修訂) (f)《商船(限制船東責任)條例》(第434章)； (由1993年第55號第30條增補。由2005年第24號第55條修訂；由2009年第14號第34條修訂)
(g)《商船(本地船隻)條例》(第548章)；或 (由2005年第24號第55條増補。由2009年第14號第34條修訂)

(h) 《燃油污染(法律責任及補償)條例》(第605章)。 (由2009年第14號第34條増補)

(由1989年第3號第2條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 20 U.K.]

註：

***: “《1989年最高法院(修訂)條例》”乃“Supreme Court (Amendment) Ordinance 1989”之譯名。

條：	12B	行使海事司法管轄權的方式	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在符合第12C條的規定下，可就所有屬原訟法庭海事司法管轄權範圍內的案件，在原訟法庭提出對人訴訟。
如屬第12A(2)(a)、(c)或(r)條所述的任何該等申索或第12A(2)(b)條所述的任何該等問題，可在原訟法庭針對與產生該申索或問題相關連的船舶或財產提出對物訴訟，而該訴訟須當作藉對物訴訟令狀提出，並在該令狀發出時提出。
在任何案件中，如就所申索的款額而在任何船舶、航空器或其他財產上有海上留置權或其他押記，則可在原訟法庭針對該船舶、航空器或財產提出對物訴訟。

(4) 如屬第12A(2)(e)至(q)條所述的任何該等申索，而─

(a) 該申索是與某船舶相關連而引致的；及

(b)在對人訴訟中會對該申索負上法律責任的人(“有關的人”)，在訴訟因由產生時是該船

舶的東主或承租人，或是管有或控制該船舶的人，則對物訴訟(不論該申索是否引致在該船舶上有海上留置權)可在原訟法庭針對以下船舶提出─

(i) 該船舶(如在該訴訟提出時有關的人是該船舶的所有份額的實益擁有人，或根據轉管租約是該船舶的承租人)；或

(ii) 任何其他船舶，而在該訴訟提出時有關的人是該其他船舶的全部分額的實益擁有人。

就性質屬於航空器的拖曳或領港的申索而言，如在提出對物訴訟時，有關航空器是由若該申索是在對人訴訟中提出則會負上法律責任的人所實益擁有的，則可在原訟法庭針對有關航空器提出對物訴訟。
凡原訟法庭在行使其海事司法管轄權時，命令將任何船舶、航空器或其他財產出售，法院對因售賣所得收益的所有權而出現的任何問題，有進行聆訊並作出裁定的司法管轄權。
就第(4)及(5)款而言，在決定某人會否就在對人訴訟中提出的申索負上法律責任時，須假定該人的慣常居住地是在香港或有營業地點在香港。
關於第12A(2)(e)至(q)條所述的任何申索，凡某船舶已獲送達一份為強制執行該申索而提出的一宗對物訴訟的令狀，或已在該訴訟中被扣押，則任何其他船舶均不得被送達一份該訴訟或其他的為強制執行該申索而提出的對物訴訟的令狀，或在該訴訟或任何其他的為強制執行該申索而提出的對物訴訟中被扣押；但本款並不阻止就任何該等申索而發出一份指名超過1艘船舶的令狀，或發出2份或多於2份的分別指名不同船舶的令狀。

(由1989年第3號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 21 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 本條適用於就以下情況所產生的損壞、人命損失或人身傷害而提出的任何申索─

(a) 船舶之間的碰撞；

(b) 2艘或多於2艘的船舶中有1艘或多於1艘進行或沒有進行船舶操縱；或

除非符合以下條件，否則原訟法庭不得受理任何為強制執行本條適用的申索而提出的對人訴訟─

(a) 被告人的慣常居住地是在香港或有營業地點在香港；
(b) 訴訟因由是在香港水域之內產生；或
(c)一宗因同一事件或同一系列事件而引致的訴訟，現正在法院進行聆訊或已在法院聆訊並予以裁定。

在原告人先前在香港以外的任何法院就同一事件或同一系列事件針對同一被告人提出的任何法律程序已中止或以其他方式完結之前，原訟法庭不得受理任何用以強制執行本條適用的申索的對人訴訟。
第(2)及(3)款適用於反申索(因同一事件或同一系列事件而引致的法律程序中的反申索除外)，一如其適用於訴訟，而就此目的而言，凡提述原告人及被告人之處，須分別解釋為提述反申索的原告人及反申索的被告人。
如任何訴訟或反申索的被告人願受或已同意願受法院的司法管轄權管轄，第(2)及(3)款不適用於該訴訟或反申索。
除第(3)款另有規定外，凡符合第(2)(a)至(c)款所指明的任何條件，原訟法庭即具有司法管轄權受理用以強制執行本條適用的申索的對人訴訟，而關於在原訟法庭的司法管轄權範圍外送達法律程序文件的法院規則，則須作出根據第55條組成的規則委員會經考慮本款條文後覺得適當的規定。
本條並不阻止將按照本條條文在原訟法庭提出的訴訟，按照為移交目的而制定的成文法則，移交其他法院審理。
為免生疑問，現宣布本條既適用於原訟法庭的不屬海事司法管轄權的司法管轄權，亦適用於原訟法庭的海事司法管轄權。

(由1989年第3號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 22 U.K.]

條：	12D	原訟法庭對在《萊茵河航行公約》範圍內的案件並無司法管轄權	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

總督所核證為根據《萊茵河航行公約》須按照該公約的條文予以裁定的任何申索或問題，原訟法庭對之並無司法管轄權作出裁定；而任何用以強制執行該申索而在原訟法庭展開的法律程序，則須作廢。

(由1989年第3號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 23 U.K.]

條：	12E	關於海事司法管轄權的補充條文	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 在第12A至12D條及本條中，除文意另有所指外─ “拖曳”(towage) 及“領港”(pilotage) 與航空器有關時，指航空器在水上時的拖曳及領港； “氣墊船”(hovercraft) 指一種運載工具，其設計為使其在行駛時完全或部分由其本身排放的空氣所

形成的墊層支承，而該墊層的外接面包括該運載工具之下的地面、水面或其他表面； “貨物”(goods) 包括行李； “船長”(master) 包括每一名指揮或掌管船舶的人(領港員除外)； “船舶”(ship) 包括用於航行的任何類別的船隻，並除總督訂立的任何規例另有規定外，包括氣墊船

(但本條第(2)(c)款除外)； “《萊茵河航行公約》”(Rhine Navigation Convention) 指日期為1868年10月7日的該公約，並按經任何後繼的公約修訂者為準； “碰撞規例”(collision regulations) 指根據或當作根據《商船(安全)條例》(第369章)第IX部訂立的規例。

(2) 第12A至12D條不得─

(a)解釋為對原訟法庭拒絕受理由並非英國船舶亦非在香港註冊的船舶的船長或船員就工資提出的訴訟的司法管轄權有所限制； (由1990年第74號第104(3)條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(b) 影響《1894年商船法令》*(1894 c. 60 U.K.)第552條的條文(殘骸接管人就救助的申索而扣留船舶的權力)對香港的適用；或

(c)授權就任何針對官方提出的申索進行對物法律程序，或授權扣押、扣留或售賣任何女皇陛下的船舶、女皇陛下的航空器或女皇陛下的氣墊船，或授權(除總督訂立的任何規例另有規定外)扣押、扣留或售賣屬於官方或香港政府的任何船舶、航空器、氣墊船、貨物或其他財產。

(3)海軍特權下的財產或官方的戰利品或沒收物而由原訟法庭充公者，均成為香港政府的財產，而原訟法庭可主動或應申請，命令將該等財產出售並將收益撥歸政府一般收入。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(4) 在本條中─

“女皇陛下的船舶”(Her Majesty's ships) 及“女皇陛下的航空器”(Her Majesty's aircraft) 具有《1947年官方法律程序法令》**(1947 c. 44 U.K.)第38(2)條給予該兩詞的涵義；

“女皇陛下的氣墊船”(Her Majesty's hovercraft) 指根據聯合王國的女皇陛下政府或香港的女皇陛下政府的權利而屬於官方的氣墊船。 (由1989年第3號第2條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 24 U.K.]

註：

**: “《1947年官方法律程序法令》”乃“Crown Proceedings Act 1947”之譯名。

條：	12F	將法律程序移交土地審裁處	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

原訟法庭可主動或應任何一方的申請，在任何階段命令將在其席前進行並屬土地審裁處司法管轄權範圍以內的訴訟或法律程序的全部或部分，移交土地審裁處。 (由2008年第3號第43條增補)

條：	13	上訴法庭的司法管轄權	L.N. 362 of 1997; 25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 上訴法庭是高級紀錄法院。

(2) 上訴法庭的民事司法管轄權由以下各方面組成─

(a) 來自原訟法庭在任何民事訟案或事宜中作出的任何判決或命令的上訴；
(b) 根據《區域法院條例》(第336章)第63條提出的上訴；及
(c) 任何其他由法律賦予上訴法庭的司法管轄權。

(3) 上訴法庭的刑事司法管轄權由以下各方面組成─

(a) 根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第IV部來自原訟法庭或區域法院的上訴；
(aa)來自原訟法庭在行使根據第21I(1)條賦予原訟法庭的權力時作出的關於刑事訟案或事宜的判決或命令的上訴； (由1993年第2號第3條增補)

(b)對根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第81(1)條保留以待上訴法庭考慮的法律問題的考慮；

(i) 律政司司長根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第81A(1)條提出的對任何判刑的覆核申請；
(ii) 律政司司長根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第81D條轉交的法律問題； (由1979年第20號第10條代替。由1997年第362號法律公告修訂)

(d)根據《區域法院條例》(第336章)第84條來自區域法院的以案件呈述方式提出的上訴；及
(e) 任何其他由法律賦予上訴法庭的司法管轄權。

(4) 為以下目的及其附帶事宜─

(a) 向上訴法庭提出的任何上訴的聆訊及裁定；及

(b) 應該上訴作出的任何判決或命令的修訂、執行及強制執行，上訴法庭具有該上訴所來自的法院或審裁處的所有權限及司法管轄權。 (由1987年第52號第9條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 15 U.K.]

(ea) (除《仲裁條例》(第341章)另有訂定外)原訟法庭的任何以下決定─

(i) 原訟法庭對根據該條例第23條就仲裁裁決中產生的法律問題提出的上訴所作的決定；或

(ii) 原訟法庭根據該條例第23A條對仲裁過程中產生的法律問題所作的決定； (由1987年第52號第10條增補)

(eb) 原訟法庭的決定，而在有關法律程序中，已就該決定根據《香港終審法院條例》(第484章)第27C條給予證明書及根據該條例第27D條給予上訴許可； (由2002年第11號第6條增補)

(f) (未經原訟法庭或上訴法庭許可)原訟法庭根據法院規則循簡易程序裁定在互爭權利訴訟的法律程序中爭議的任何問題時作出的判決或命令：但本段對由法官審訊(不論是在有陪審團或無陪審團的情況下)的任何互爭權利訴訟的爭論點並無任何效力； (由2001年第21號第48條修訂)

(g)《香港終審法院條例》(第484章)第22(1)(c)條所提述的原訟法庭的一項裁定、判決或命令。 (由2001年第21號第48條增補)

(4)根據第54條訂立的法院規則，可訂定任何訂明類別的命令或判決，就任何與向上訴法庭提出上訴相關連的訂明目的而言，須為視其為最終命令或判決或非正審命令或判決。 (由1987年第52號第10條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 60 U.K.]

(5)就上訴法庭對於為任何與向該庭上訴相關連的目的某項判決或命令是最終抑或非正審的判

決或命令的決定而言，不得提出來自該決定的上訴。 (由1987年第52號第10條增補) (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	14AA	非正審上訴須有上訴許可	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

除法院規則另有規定外，任何人不得針對原訟法庭在任何民事訟案或事宜中作出的非正審判決或命令向上訴法庭提出上訴，但如原訟法庭或上訴法庭已批予上訴許可，則屬例外。

法院規則可指明第(1)款不適用於任何訂明類別的判決或命令，而針對有關判決或命令據此提出上訴屬當然權利。

(3) 第(1)款所指的上訴許可，可—

(a) 就在有關的非正審判決或命令中出現的某個爭論點而批予；及
(b)在聆訊該許可申請的法庭認為為使有關上訴得到公正、迅速及合乎經濟原則的處置而需要的條件的規限下批予。

(4) 聆訊有關上訴許可申請的法庭除非信納—

(a) 有關上訴有合理機會得直；或

(b) 有其他有利於秉行公正的理由，因而該上訴應進行聆訊，否則不得批予第(1)款所指的上訴許可。

(5) 本條並不就在本條生效*之前作出的原訟法庭的非正審判決或命令而適用。 (由2008年第3號第25條增補)

註：

* 生效日期：2009年4月2日。

條：	14AB	就上訴許可所作的決定為最終的決定	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

就上訴法庭對應否批予向它提出上訴的上訴許可所作的決定，任何人不得提出上訴。 (由2008年第3號第25條增補)

條：	14A	來自刑事訟案或事宜中應司法覆核申請作出的命令的上訴	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

來自原訟法庭應第21K(1)條所提述的司法覆核申請作出的關於刑事訟案或事宜的判決或命令的上訴，可向上訴法庭提出。 (由1993年第2號第4條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	15	重新審訊的申請	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)凡任何訟案或事宜或任何訟案或事宜中的任何爭論點已由原訟法庭審訊，則要求將其重新審訊的申請，或要求將在其中作出的裁決、裁斷或判決作廢的申請，須由上訴法庭聆訊並裁定。

(2) 本條並不更改破產常規。

(由1987年第52號第11條代替。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 17 U.K.]

條：	16	須在高等法院施行的法律及衡平法	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)上訴法庭及原訟法庭在任何民事訟案或事宜中行使司法管轄權時，須繼續按照以下準則施行法律及衡平法：每當就同一事宜衡平法規則與普通法規則之間有任何衝突或歧異，須以衡平法規則為準。

(2) 上訴法庭及原訟法庭須將與至現時為止的效力相同的效力─

(a)給予所有衡平法產業權、所有權、權利、濟助、抗辯及反申索，以及所有衡平法責任及法律責任；及

(b) (在符合以上規定下)給予所有法律申索及索求以及因普通法或任何習俗而存在或由任何

條例設定的所有產業權、所有權、權利、責任、義務及法律責任，並須對在其席前的每宗訟案或事宜行使其司法管轄權，以盡量確保各方之間的所有爭議事宜能全部及最終地予以裁定，且無須就任何該等事宜進行繁多而重複的法律程序。

(3)本條例並不影響上訴法庭或原訟法庭在其認為適合時主動或應任何人(不論是否有關法律程序的一方)的申請擱置任何在其席前的法律程序的權力。

(由1987年第52號第11條代替。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 49 U.K.]

條：	17	判給損害賠償並授予強制令或強制履行令或判給損害賠償以代替強制令或強制履行令的權力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

上訴法庭或原訟法庭如具有司法管轄權可受理強制令或強制履行令的申請，則可在授予強制令或強制履行令之外再判給損害賠償，或判給損害賠償以代替強制令或強制履行令。 (由1987年第52號第11條代替。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 50 U.K.]

條：	18	(由1987年第52號第12條廢除)	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

條：	19	(由1987年第52號第12條廢除)	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

條：	20	原訟法庭施加押記令的權力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第 4章 -高等法院條例

凡根據原訟法庭的一項判決或命令，某人(在本條及第20A及20B條稱為“債務人”)須向另一人(在本條及第20A條稱為“債權人”)繳付一筆款項，則為強制執行該項判決或命令，原訟法庭可作出一項命令，在該項命令所指明的債務人財產上施加一項押記，以保證任何根據該項判決或命令到期須付或會成為到期須付的款項獲得繳付。 (由1987年第52號第13條代替)
(2) 根據第(1)款作出的命令，在本條例中稱為“押記令”。 (由1987年第52號第13條代替)

在決定是否作出押記令時，原訟法庭須考慮有關案件的所有情況，尤其是在其席前的有關以下事項的證據─

(a) 債務人的個人情況；及
(b) 債務人的任何其他債權人會否相當可能因押記令的作出而蒙受不當的損害。 (由1987年第52號第13條代替)

(4) 本條適用於任何法院或仲裁員(包括任何外國法院或外國仲裁員)作出的屬全部或在某限定範圍內可強制執行或已成為可強制執行的判決、命令、判令或裁決(不論其名稱為何)，一如其適用於原訟法庭作出的判決或命令。

(由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1979 c. 53 s. 1 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 除第(3)款另有規定外，只可對以下財產藉押記令施加押記─

(a) 債務人─

(i) 在屬第(2)款所述種類的任何資產中所實益持有的權益；或
(ii) 根據任何信託所實益持有的權益；或

(b)某人作為某信託(在本段中稱為“該信託”)的受託人而持有的權益，如該權益是在屬第

款所述種類的任何資產中的權益或是根據另一信託享有的權益，而─
(i) 將會施加押記的判決或命令，是針對該人作為該信託的受託人而作出的；
(ii) 根據該信託享有的全部實益權益，是由債務人在沒有產權負擔及為本身利益的情況下持有的；或
(iii) 在有2名或多於2名的債務人而各人均就同一債項向債權人負法律責任時，各人是在沒有產權負擔及為本身利益的情況下合而持有根據該信託享有的全部實益權益的。

(2) 第(1)款所提述的資產是─

(a) 土地；

(b) 屬任何以下種類的證券─

(i) 政府證券；
(ii) 在香港成立為法團的任何團體的證券；
(iii) 在香港以外成立為法團的任何團體的證券，或香港以外任何國家或領域的證券，而該等證券在一本備存於香港某處地方的登記冊上已作登記；
(iv)任何單位信託的單位，而關於該等單位的一份單位持有人登記冊已備存於香港某處地方；或

(3) 凡藉押記令對屬第(2)(b)或(c)款所述種類的資產中的任何權益施加一項押記，原訟法庭可訂

定該項押記擴及就該資產而繳付的任何利息、派息或其他分發，以及擴及就該資產而作出的任何紅利派發。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(4) 在本條中─ “派息”(dividend) 包括就某單位信託的任何單位而作出的任何分發； [比照1979 c. 53 s. 6 U.K.]“單位信託”(unit trust)指任何信託，而其設立的目的或效用是向擁有可作投資的資金的人提供設

施，使該人能以信託下的受益人身分分享由取得、持有、管理或處置任何財產而產生的利潤或入息；及

“證券”(stock)包括由有關團體發行的股份、債權證、借貸股額、基金、債券、票據或任何其他保證物，不論其是否構成一項在該團體資產上的押記，並包括認購或獲得分配任何前述者的權利或選擇權。

(由1987年第52號第14條增補) [比照 1979 c. 53 s. 2 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

押記令可無條件作出，或可在施加關於通知債務人、押記成為可強制執行的時間或其他事宜的條件下作出。
《土地註冊條例》(第128章)適用於押記令，一如其適用於用以強制執行判決而發出或作出的其他命令或令狀。
除本條例條文另有規定外，由押記令施加的押記所具有的效力，與債務人簽署書面設定的衡平法押記所具有的效力相同，並可在相同法院以相同方式強制執行。
原訟法庭可應債務人或與押記令所關乎的財產有利害關係的人的申請，隨時作出命令解除或更改押記令。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
就任何依據《土地註冊條例》(第128章)註冊的押記令而言，如有一項第(4)款所指的命令作出而將該押記令解除，則土地註冊處處長在有人向他送交一份註冊摘要及該項命令的正式文本存檔時，須將該押記令的解除記入註冊紀錄冊，並可就該記項發出證明書。 (由1993年第8號第3條修訂)

(由1987年第52號第14條增補) [比照 1979 c. 53 s. 3 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)就原訟法庭就債項作扣押以履行支付款項的判決或命令的司法管轄權而言，在認可金融機構存款帳戶中存於某人貸方的一筆款項，須當作為該人應得或累算應得的款項，而即使以下任何適用於該帳戶的條件未獲符合，在不抵觸法院規則的規定下，該筆款項仍可據此予以扣押─ (由1987年第52號第15條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 提取任何款項前須給予通知的條件；

(b) 提取任何款項前必須親自提出申請的條件；

(d) 提取任何款項前必須出示存款收據的條件；或

(e) 法院規則所訂明的任何其他條件。

(2) 在本條中，“認可金融機構”(authorized financial institution) 指《銀行業條例》(第155章)第2

條所指的認可機構。 (由1987年第52號第15條增補。由1995年第49號第53條修訂) [比照 1956 c. 46 s. 38 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)除第21B條另有規定外，除非是根據一項法庭命令，否則不得將任何人逮捕或監禁，以對一宗要求繳付款項或損害賠償的民事申索作強制執行、保證或追索；而法庭只在為對須繳付一筆指明款額的款項的判決作強制執行、保證或追索時，始具有司法管轄權作出該逮捕或監禁的命令。

(2) 根據第(1)款作出的監禁命令，監禁期不得超逾3個月。
(3) 第(2)款所述期間可藉立法局的決議修訂。

(4) (a)法庭可應申請無條件或在施加其認為適合的條件下解除、更改或暫停執行根據本條作出的逮捕或監禁的命令。
(b)法庭可根據本條作出逮捕或監禁的命令，並施加其認為適合的條件，包括執行該命令的時間及地點的各種條件，以及在判定債項及訟費獲繳付、或由判定債務人或他人代其提供保證或在判定債務人的旅行證件交出時，判定債務人須獲釋放等條件。

(5) 在本條中，“法庭”(Court) 包括司法常務官或任何聆案官。 (由1987年第52號第16條修訂)

(6) 本條並不影響法庭就以下事宜作出交付羈押令的司法管轄權─

(a) 藐視法庭；或
(b) 不服從法庭的判決或命令。 (由1984年第1號第2條增補)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 法院具有司法管轄權作出禁止某人離開香港的命令(禁止令)，以便就以下事宜作強制執行、保證或追索─

(a) 判該人敗訴而須繳付一筆指明款額的款項的判決；

(b) 判該人敗訴而須辦理以下事宜的判決或命令─

(i) 繳付一筆款額有待評估的款項；或
(ii) 交付任何財產或作出任何其他作為；或

(i) 繳付款項或損害賠償；或
(ii) 交付任何財產或作出任何其他作為。

除非法庭信納有頗有可能的因由令其相信以下事宜，否則法庭不得根據第(1)(b)款作出命令 ─

(a) 該項命令所針對的人即將離開香港；及
(b) 因(a)段以致該判決或命令的履行相當可能會受到妨礙或延遲。

除非法庭信納有頗有可能的因由令其相信以下事宜，否則法庭不得根據第(1)(c)款作出命令 ─

(a) 有好的訴訟因由；

(b) 該項命令所針對的人─

(i) 是身在香港之時在香港招致所指稱的法律責任，而該法律責任是申索的標的；或
(ii) 是在香港經營業務；或
(iii) 是通常居於香港；

(c) 該人即將離開香港；及
(d) 因(c)段以致任何可能作出判該人敗訴的判決相當可能會受到妨礙或延遲。

(4) (a) 法庭可應申請無條件或在施加其認為適合的條件下解除禁止令。
(b)法庭可在施加其認為適合的條件下作出禁止令，該等條件包括如判定債務人或提出的申索所針對的人履行判決或了結申索或提供法庭所命令的保證，則禁止令即無效力的條件。

(5) (a) 根據第(1)款作出的命令，在以下時間失效─

(i) 在一個月屆滿時，但法庭可應判定債權人或申索人的申請，將命令展期或續期，為期以開始的一個月期間及任何其他展期或續期的期間合計，不得超逾3個月；及
(ii) 判定債權人或申索人將一份說明不再需要該命令的通知書送達入境事務處處長並將之送交司法常務官存檔時。 (由1997年第362號法律公告修訂)

(b)判定債權人或申索人須在不再需要該命令時，在合理可能的情況下，盡快將(a)(ii)段所述的通知書送達和送交存檔。

根據第(1)款作出的命令及任何其他附帶命令的文本，須送達入境事務處處長、警務處處長，以及判定債務人或提出的申索所針對的人(如能尋獲的話)。 (由1997年第362號法律公告修訂)

凡法庭根據第(1)款作出命令禁止某人離開香港，任何已獲送達該命令的文本或經其他方式知悉該命令的效力的人，如違反該命令而企圖離開香港，則任何入境事務主任、警務人員或執達主任均可將其逮捕。
(8) (a) 根據第(7)款被逮捕的人，須在被逮捕之日的翌日完結前被帶到法庭席前，而法庭可─

(i) (如屬第(1)(a)款所述情況)為訊問或監禁該人而根據法院規則作出適當的命令；
(ii) (如屬任何其他人的情況)作出命令將該人監禁，直至禁止令失效或解除為止；或
(iii) (不論屬何情況)作出命令將該人無條件釋放，或在該人遵從法庭認為適合的條件後將該人釋放。

(b) 《釋義及通則條例》(第1章)第71條不適用於本款。

入境事務處處長無須為未有阻止根據本條作出的命令所針對的任何人離開香港而負法律責任。 (由1997年第362號法律公告修訂)
在本條中，“法院”、“法庭”(Court) 包括司法常務官或任何聆案官。 (由1987年第52號第17條修訂)

(11) 根據本條作出的命令，其格式可由法院規則訂明。 (由1984年第1號第2條增補)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

除第(2)款另有規定外，原訟法庭發出的扣押債務人財產令狀或其他針對貨物的執行令狀，由交付執達主任執行之時開始，即對執行債務人的貨物的產權具約束力。 (由1998年第25號第2條修
訂)

屬第(1)款所提述種類的令狀，並不損害任何人真誠地並以有值代價取得的執行債務人的貨物的所有權，除非該人在取得其所有權時，已知悉有該令狀或有任何其他可藉以將執行債務人的該等貨物檢取或扣押的令狀，已交付執達主任並仍在其手上尚未執行。
為更確切顯示第(1)款所述時間，執達主任有責任(不收費用)在收到第(1)款所述令狀時，在令狀背面註明他收到令狀的年、月、日、時。

(4) 在本條及第21D條中─

(a) “產權”(property) 指貨物的一般產權，而不單指某一項特殊產權；

(b) “執達主任”(bailiff) 包括負責強制執行一份執行令狀的任何人員；

(c)凡提述執行債務人的貨物之處，須當作提述可予以扣押並出售以執行某項判決的財產；

(d) 任何作為，如事實上是誠實地作出，則不論是否疏忽地作出，均須視為真誠地作出。

(由1987年第52號第18條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 138 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

以下財產可予以扣押並出售以執行某項判決：土地、貨物、金錢、鈔票、支票、匯票、承付票、政府證券、債券，或就金錢而提供的其他保證物、債項、任何公司或法團(《公司條例》(第32章)第29條所指的私人公司除外)的資本或合股的股份，以及所有屬於判定債務人的任何其他財產，不論是動產或不動產，亦不論該等財產是以其本身名義持有，或是由他人受其信託而持有或代其持有：
但以下財產不得予以扣押並出售以執行某項判決：判定債務人的生財工具(如有的話)及判定債務人本人與受其供養而又與其同住的家人所需用的衣物及寢具，總值以不超逾$10000為限。

凡負責強制執行任何令狀、手令或其他執行法律程序文件的執達主任檢取任何貨物，而貨物在檢取時是由執行債務人管有，並在無人就其提出申索的情況下被該執達主任出售，則除第(3)款另有規定外，該等被如此出售的貨物的購買人即取得該等貨物的妥善所有權，而除《破產條例》(第6章)第46條另有訂明外，任何人均無權針對該執達主任或任何在該執達主任授權下合法行事的人，就收到對該等貨物的申索前該等貨物的出售或出售該等貨物所得收益的付給作出追討，除非證明被追討的人已知悉或假若作合理查詢則本可查明貨物非屬執行債務人的財產：

但任何申索人可證明在任何被如此檢取並出售的貨物出售時，他對該等貨物擁有所有權，本款對該申索人相對於前述執達主任或購買人以外的任何人而言有權獲得任何補救的權利，並無影響。

(3)儘管本條前述條文已有規定，法院仍可在符合法院規則的情況下，以出售過程有具關鍵性

的不符合規定之處為理由，將用以執行某項判決的任何不動產的出售作廢。 (由1987年第52號第18條增補)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 上訴法庭(在行使其民事司法管轄權時)或原訟法庭所判處的罰款的繳付，或根據被其沒收的

擔保而須繳的款項的繳付，可在法庭的命令下強制執行，方式與強制執行原訟法庭的繳付款項判決的方式相同。

(2) 凡一筆罰款或其他款項的繳付，在上訴法庭(在行使其民事司法管轄權時)或原訟法庭的命令下成為須予強制執行─

(a)如該筆罰款或其他款項並未隨即或在法庭所容許的時限內全數繳付，法庭須向司法常務官核證須繳付的款項；及

(b)司法常務官須隨即著手強制執行該筆款項的繳付，猶如該筆款項是須繳付給他的判定債項一樣。

(3) 在本條中，“罰款”(fine) 包括在民事法律程序中施加的處罰。

(由1987年第52號第18條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 140 U.K.]

附註：有關《立法會決議》(2007年第130號法律公告)所作之修訂的保留及過渡性條文，見載於該決議第(12)段。

如出租人就任何土地在原訟法庭藉訴訟著手針對承租人欠交租金而強制執行重收權或沒收租賃權，本條在不抵觸第(1A)款的條文下具有效力。(由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2002年第32號第40條修訂)
(1A)如在租契的租期內，本條的施行曾令出租人不能針對承租人強制執行第(1)款所述的權利，則在該租期內，本條不得再次施行而令該出租人不能針對該承租人行使該權利；但如法庭信納有好的因由應施行本條以使承租人得益，則不在此限。 (由2002年第32號第40條增補)

如有展開訴訟的令狀送達，而在法院規則所訂明的送達認收時限內，承租人向法院繳付所有欠租及訴訟的訟費，則訴訟須予終止，承租人並即無須訂立任何新租契而按照有關租契持有土地。
(3) 如─
(a) 訴訟並無根據第(2)款終止；及

(b) 法庭在審訊時，信納出租人有權強制執行重收權或沒收租賃權，法庭須命令將土地的管有在法庭認為適合的期限(由命令的日期起計不得少於7天)屆滿時交給出租人，除非在該段期限內，承租人將所有欠租及法庭就有關訴訟的訟費所指示的款項繳存法院。 (由2002年第32號第40條修訂)
(3A)發展局局長可藉憲報公告修訂第(3)款指明的日數，以另一日數取代該日數。 (由2002年第32號第40條增補。由2007年第130號法律公告修訂)

在土地的管有依據根據第(3)款作出的命令收回前的任何時間，法庭可將根據該款指明的期限延展。
(5) 除第(6)款另有規定外，如─
(a) 在命令所指明的期限內；或

(b) 在根據第(4)款延展的期限內，承租人將以下款項繳存法院─
(i) 所有欠租；及

(ii) 就訴訟的訟費所指示繳付的款項，承租人並即無須訂立任何新租契而按照有關租契持有土地。

(6)如出租人在同一訴訟中，除以因欠交租金為理由外，亦以其他理由着手強制執行重收權或沒收租賃權，或除着手強制執行重收權或沒收租賃權及關於欠租的申索外，亦着手強制執行任何其他申索，第(2)款即不適用。

(7) 如承租人並無─

(a) 在命令所指明的期限內；或

(ii) 就訴訟的訟費所指示繳付的款項，則命令可予強制執行，而只要命令尚未推翻，承租人即被禁止獲得任何濟助。; (b) 已有一份管有令狀就有關土地發出，法庭須將該令狀在延展的期限內暫停執行，而如在延展的期限屆滿前，承租人將所有欠租及就有關訴訟的訟費所指示繳付的款項繳存法院，則法庭須取消該令狀。

(10) 本條不得視為影響─

(a) 法庭在被告人沒有發出擬抗辯通知書的情況下登錄最終判決的權力；

(b)法庭以欠交租金以外的任何理由就重收權或沒收租賃權本來有權作出任何命令的權力；或

(由1987年第52號第18條增補) [比照 1984 c. 28 s. 138 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在第21F條具有效力的情況下，如─

(a) 在訴訟展開時已拖欠租金半年；

(b) 出租人因該筆租金的欠交而有重收權；及

(由1987年第52號第18條增補) [比照 1984 c. 28 s. 139 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條；見1998年第29號第3條

(1) 在本條和第21F及21G條中─ “分租租契”(under-lease) 在承轉租人已有權獲批給其分租租契的情況下，包括分租租契協議； “出租人”(lessor) 包括─

(a) 原本或派生的分租人；及

(b) (如承租人已有權獲批給其租契)租契協議； “審訊”(trial) 包括申請作出簡易判決的聆訊。
(2): 第21F條並不影響《政府土地權(重收及轉歸補救)條例》(第126章)的條文。 (由1998年第29號第3條修訂)

(由1987年第52號第18條增補) [比照 1948 c. 28 s. 140 U.K.]

條：	21I	履行義務令、禁止令及移審令	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

原訟法庭具有司法管轄權，在其有權在緊接《1987年最高法院(修訂)條例》*(1987年第52號)生效日期前作出履行義務令、禁止令及移審令的各類案件中，作出該等命令。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(2) 每項該等命令均屬最終命令，但須受就任何該等命令提出上訴的權利所規限。

就原訟法庭根據任何成文法則，規定裁判官或區域法院法官或人員須作出任何與其各別職位的職責有關的作為的權力而言，或規定裁判官須呈述案件以便原訟法庭給予意見的權力而言，如原訟法庭以前憑藉任何成文法則曾具有司法管轄權可就任何該等目的而使某項規令成為絕對規令或一項命令，原訟法庭即可以履行義務令行使該權力。 (由1997年第47號第10條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(4) 在任何成文法則中─

(a) 凡提述履行義務令狀、禁止令狀或移審令狀之處，須解釋為提述相應的命令；及

(b) 凡提述發出或給予該等令狀之處，須解釋為提述作出相應的命令。

(由1987年第52號第18條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 29 U.K.]

註：

* “《1987年最高法院(修訂)條例》”乃“Supreme Court (Amendment) Ordinance 1987”之譯名。

條：	21J	禁制任何人擔當其無權擔當的職位的強制令	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 凡某人無權擔當本條適用的職位而擔當該職位，原訟法庭可─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 授予強制令，禁制該人擔當該職位；及
(b) 如情況有此需要，宣布該職位懸空。
(2) 本條適用於任何成文法則所設立的任何公職或職位。
	(由1987年第52號第18條增補)
	[比照 1981 c. 54 s. 30 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 向原訟法庭要求批予以下一種或多於一種濟助的申請─

(a) 履行義務令、禁止令或移審令；

(b) 根據第21J條授予禁制一名無權擔當該條所適用的職位的人擔當該職位的強制令，須按照法院規則以一項稱為申請司法覆核的程序作出。; (c) 有關案件的所有情況，認為作出宣布或授予強制令(視屬何情況而定)是公正及適宜的，可作出所要求的宣布或授予所要求的強制令。
(5): 如在接獲尋求移審令的申請司法覆核後，原訟法庭撤銷該項申請所關乎的決定，則原訟法庭可將有關事宜發回有關的法院、審裁處或主管當局，並指示須按照原訟法庭的裁斷而重新考慮有關事宜和達成決定。

(7) 第(6)款不損害任何具有限制提出司法覆核申請時限的效力的成文法則或法院規則。

(由1987年第52號第18條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 31 U.K.]

在原訟法庭覺得如此行事是公正或適宜的所有情況下，原訟法庭可藉命令(不論是非正審命令或最終命令)授予強制令或委任何一名接管人。
(2) 任何該等命令可無條件作出，或按法院認為公正的條款及條件作出。

根據第(1)款或第21M條，原訟法庭授予非正審強制令以禁制任何法律程序的一方將位於原訟法庭的司法管轄權範圍內的資產由該司法管轄範圍內移走或以其他方式處理的權力，不論在該一方是否居於或身在該司法管轄權範圍內的個案中，抑或在該一方的居籍或本籍是否在該司法管轄權範圍內的個案中，原訟法庭均可行使。 (由2008年第3號第9條修訂)

如在聆訊任何訟案或事宜之前，之時或之後，有人申請強制令以防止任何有受威脅會發生或惟恐會發生的土地損壞或侵入行為，則如原訟法庭認為適合，可授予強制令，不論─

(a)所尋求的強制令所針對的人是否根據任何聲稱的業權或其他權利而管有有關的產業，或(如非管有的話)是否假托任何業權之名而聲稱有權作出所禁制的作為；及
(b) 雙方或任何一方所申索的產業權是法律上或衡平法的產業權。

原訟法庭由於衡平法執行而委任接管人的權力，可就土地的所有法律產業權及權益運作，而該項權力─

(a)可就土地的產業權或權益行使，不論已否因為強制執行有關判決、命令、判令或裁決的目的而根據第20條對有關土地施加一項押記；及
(b) 是增加而非減損任何法院在強制執行該項押記的法律程序中委任接管人的權力。

凡根據第20條作出的為強制執行某項判決、命令、判令或裁決的目的而施加一項押記的命令，已根據《土地註冊條例》(第128章)第2條註冊，該條例第3(2)條對在以下情況作出的委任接管人的命令即不適用─

(a) 該命令是在強制執行該項押記的法律程序中作出的；或
(b)該命令是以衡平法執行判決、命令、判令或裁決的方式作出或是以衡平法執行該判決、命令、判令或裁決中規定須繳付該項押記所保證的款項的部分的方式作出(視屬何情況而定)。

(由1987年第52號第18條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 37 U.K.]

在不損害第21L(1)條的原則下，原訟法庭可就符合以下描述的法律程序，藉命令委任接管人或批予臨時濟助—

(a) 已在或將會在香港以外地方展開；而且
(b) 能產生一項可根據任何條例或普通法在香港強制執行的判決。

(2) 第(1)款所指的命令可無條件地作出，或按原訟法庭認為公正的條款及條件作出。

(3) 即使有以下情況，第(1)款仍適用—

(a)若非因本條，有關法律程序的標的事項不會產生原訟法庭對之具有司法管轄權的訴訟因由；或
(b) 委任接管人或所尋求的臨時濟助並非附屬於或附帶於任何在香港進行的法律程序。

如原訟法庭認為若非因本條，原訟法庭就有關法律程序的標的事項並無司法管轄權此一事實，使原訟法庭若批准要求根據第(1)款委任接管人或批予臨時濟助的申請即屬不公正，或使原訟法庭不便批准該項申請，則原訟法庭可拒絕批准該項申請。

(5) 根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括為下述事宜訂立法院規則的權力—

(a) 提出要求根據第(1)款委任接管人或批予臨時濟助的申請；及
(b) 在本司法管轄權範圍外送達委任接管人或臨時濟助的申請或命令。

(6) 憑藉本條訂立的規則可包括規則委員會認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文。
(7) 在本條中，“臨時濟助”(interim relief) 包括第21L(3)條所提述的非正審強制令。 (由2008年第3號第10條增補)

(1) 在行使第21M(1)條所訂的權力時，原訟法庭須顧及下述事實—

(a) 該權力是附帶於已在或將會在香港以外地方展開的法律程序；及
(b)該權力是為利便位於香港以外地方而對該等法律程序具有基本司法管轄權的法院的程序。

為確保根據第21M條批予的命令的有效性，原訟法庭具有相同的權力作出任何附帶命令或

條：	21N	關乎在沒有實質法律程序進行的情況下的臨時濟助的補充條文	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

指示，猶如該命令是根據第21L條就在香港展開的法律程序而批予的一樣。 (由2008年第3號第10條增補)

條：	22	(由1987年第52號第19條廢除)	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

條：	22A	人身保護令狀的申請及發出	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 屬以下情況的申請可向原訟法庭提出─

(a) 指稱申請所指名的人是無合法理由而被羈留；並且

(b) 要求就該人發出人身保護令狀。

申請可由指稱被羈留的人或由任何其他人代為提出，尤其可由聲稱在法律上有權看管某另一人的人提出，或由他人代該如此聲稱的人提出。
(3) 申請可單方面提出。

原訟法庭在接獲申請後，必須在切實可行範圍內盡快查究該項申請人是被非法羈留的指稱。所有根據本條進行的法律程序，均須在公開法庭進行，但如法庭在其所指明的例外情況下，命令法律程序或其某部分須以非公開形式進行，則不在此限。在每一個案中，所有就該等法律程序作出的命令及決定，以及作出該等命令及決定的理由，均須在公開法庭宣布。

(5) 原訟法庭在考慮申請時，如信納申請是有實據的，則必須作出以下其中一項行動─

(a)命令發出人身保護令狀，指示看管申請人的人在指明日期指明時間，將申請人帶到法庭席前，並向法庭核證將申請人羈留的理由；
(b) 命令看管申請人的人在法庭席前出庭，以提出將申請人羈留是合法的理由。

(6) 原訟法庭如經考慮人身保護令狀的申請後信納申請是無實據的，則可駁回申請。
(7) 人身保護令狀所致予的人必須在令狀所指明的日期，並在不遲於令狀所指明的時間─

(a) 在原訟法庭法庭席前交出指稱被羈留的人；及

(b) 就令狀作出正式回報。但原訟法庭如信納有好的理由將遵從人身保護令狀的時限延展，則可如此行事。
如因任何理由，人身保護令狀所致予的人不可能遵從令狀，則該人仍必須向原訟法庭作出回報，指明不可能遵從令狀的理由。
凡某人按照人身保護令狀被帶到原訟法庭法庭席前，法庭必須立即查究有關該人被羈留的情況，並且除非信納羈留該人是合法的，否則必須命令將該人從羈留中釋放。

(10)如看管被羈留者的人按照一項根據第(5)(b)款作出的命令在法庭席前出庭，但沒有使法庭信納羈留該名被羈留者是合法的，則法庭必須命令立即將該名被羈留者從羈留中釋放。

如已有人身保護令狀就某名被羈留者發出，則直至該令狀已被撤銷或有關的法律程序完結為止，看管該名被羈留者的人不得─

(a)容許該名被羈留者被送往香港另一羈留地方，但根據《監獄條例》(第234章)的授權或任何其他就將人羈留作出明文規定的成文法則的授權則除外；或
(b) 容許該名被羈留者被移離香港。

如先前以某一理由被羈留的人因人身保護令狀的發出或按照一項根據第(10)款作出的命令而獲釋放，則任何人只可在有關的情況有重大改變的情況下，始能以同一或相類的理由再度羈留該人。
(13) 任何人─
(a) 沒有遵從人身保護令狀或本條的規定；或

(b) 違反第(12)款，即屬犯藐視原訟法庭罪。
根據普通法取得人身保護令狀的權利現予保存，並只在其與本條有抵觸的範圍內始受本條影響。

(15) 就本條而言─

(a)某人看管另一人，不但指該人實際看管該另一人的人身，亦指該人對該另一人的人身具有支配權或控制權；及

(b) 就代某人提出的申請而言，凡提述申請人亦包括提述該人。 (由1997年第95號第3條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	23	對重覆提出人身保護令的申請的限制	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)即使任何法律或法院規則另有規定，凡已有一項人身保護令申請由任何人或就任何人提出，除非援引新證據支持該項申請，否則該項申請不得由該人或就該人以相同理由再向原訟法庭或任何原訟法庭法官提出。 (由1997年第95號第4條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(2) (由1997年第95號第4條廢除) [比照 1960 c. 65 s. 14 U.K.]

條：	24	人身保護令程序的上訴	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

向上訴法庭提出來自原訟法庭對一項人身保護令申請所作決定的上訴，乃屬當然權利，不論原訟法庭是命令釋放被羈留的人或是拒絕作出上述命令。 (由1997年第95號第5條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1960 c. 65 s. 15 U.K.]

條：	25	作出移審令時原訟法庭更改刑罰的權力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

第 4章 -高等法院條例

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡就某項罪行而被裁判官或區域法院判處刑罰的人向原訟法庭申請移審令，以將在裁判官或區域法院席前進行的法律程序移交原訟法庭，而原訟法庭裁定裁判官或區域法院並無權力處以該項刑罰，則原訟法庭可修改定罪判決，以裁判官或區域法院有權力施加的任何刑罰取代已處的刑罰，而不將定罪判決撤銷。
原訟法庭憑藉本條用以取代裁判官或區域法院所處刑罰而處以的任何刑罰，除非原訟法庭另有指示，否則須自假若該刑罰是由裁判官或區域法院所處即本應開始之時開始。
本條在加以必要的變通後，適用於裁判官或區域法院在將罪犯定罪時所作出但不屬構成定罪部分的任何命令，一如其適用於定罪判決及刑罰。

(由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1960 c. 65 s. 16 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡原訟法庭作出一項判決或命令，指示某人簽立任何轉易契、合約或其他文件或背書任何可流轉票據，而─
(a) 該人疏忽或拒絕遵從該項判決或命令；或

(b) 在經過合理的查詢後未能尋獲該人，則原訟法庭可命令該轉易契、合約或其他文件由原訟法庭為此目的而提名的人簽立，或命令該可流轉票據由原訟法庭為此目的而提名的人背書，並可施加公正的條款及條件(如有的話)。
按照第(1)款簽立或背書的轉易契、合約、文件或票據，所具有的效力，猶如其是由原本被指示作簽立或背書的人簽立或背書者一樣。
本條不得視為削減原訟法庭藉扣押而針對任何疏忽或拒絕簽立或背書任何該等文書的人進行法律程序的權力。

(由1987年第52號第20條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 39 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

除本條條文另有規定外，不得使任何幼年人成為受法院監護的人，但憑藉原訟法庭作出的旨在使幼年人成為受法院監護的人的命令則除外。
凡有要求就一名幼年人作出該項命令的申請提出，該名幼年人在申請提出時即成為受法院監護的人，但除非在法院規則所訂明的期間內已按照該項申請而作出命令，否則該名幼年人在該段期間屆滿時即終止為受法院監護的人。
原訟法庭可應就此而提出的申請或在並無申請提出的情況下，命令任何當其時是受法院監護的人的幼年人終止為受法院監護的人。

(由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1949 c. 100 s. 9 U.K.]

條：	27	對無理纏擾的法律程序的限制	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) 原訟法庭可應律政司司長或受影響的人的申請，作出命令—

(a) 使該命令所針對的人在未獲原訟法庭許可下，不得提起任何法律程序；及
(b)使該人在未獲原訟法庭許可下，不得繼續進行他在該命令作出前在任何法院提起的任何法律程序。

(2) 除非原訟法庭—

(a)信納將會作出的命令所針對的人曾慣常及經常在無合理理據的情況下提起無理纏擾的法律程序(不論是在高等法院或任何下級法院，亦不論是針對同一人或針對不同的人)；及

(b) 已聆聽將會作出的命令所針對的人，或已給予該人獲聆聽的機會，否則原訟法庭不可根據第(1)款作出命令。

(3) 根據第(1)款作出的命令—

(a) 可按原訟法庭認為公正的條款及條件作出；及
(b) 可訂定該項命令在一段指明期間完結後失效，但如無訂定，則命令無限期有效。

(4) 根據第(1)款作出的命令的文本須在憲報刊登。

(5) 在第(1)款中，“受影響的人”(affected person) 指—

(a) 是或曾經是任何無理纏擾的法律程序的一方的人；或
(b) 曾直接蒙受該等法律程序所導致的不利影響的人。 (由2008年第3號第13條代替)

(1) 除非原訟法庭信納—

(a) 有關法律程序並非濫用有關法院的程序；及

(b) 有合理理據進行該等法律程序，否則原訟法庭不得對當其時根據第27(1)條屬有效的命令所針對的人給予許可，讓該人提起或繼續該等法律程序。

條：	27A	提起或繼續法律程序的許可	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(2)除非有原訟法庭就它批予或拒絕批予本條規定的許可的決定批予的上訴許可，否則不得就

該決定提出上訴。 (由2008年第3號第13條增補)

條：	28	高等法院的開庭期及事務分配	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條第IV部開庭期及事務分配

(1) 高等法院須在終審法院首席法官所指定的時間及地點開庭。
(2) 高等法院的事務須按照終審法院首席法官所作出的指示而分配。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	29	休庭期	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 高等法院及各登記處每年須遵守以下的休庭期安排─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 暑假； (由1987年第52號第22條修訂)
(b) 聖誕假期；及
(c) 復活節假期。

(2) 第(1)款所提述的休庭期的日期由法院規則訂明。
(3) 每段休庭期的開始及結束之日均包括在該段休庭期內。

條：	30	休庭期內的事務	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 高等法院及各登記處須為以下目的而在任何休庭期內開放(公眾假期除外)─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 進行刑事審訊、就刑事上訴作出裁定並處理所有附帶事務；及

(b) 處理法院規則所訂明的其他事務。 (由1983年第49號第6條代替)

(2)-(3) (由1983年第49號第6條廢除)

條：	31	休庭期期間的計算方法及休庭期內的作為的效力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡藉任何規管民事程序的法律，或藉高等法院的任何特別命令，指定或容許在任何一段不超逾一個月的期間內作出任何作為或提出任何法律程序，則除非法院另有指示，否則在計算該段期間時，任何包括在暑假之內的日子，均不得計入： (由1987年第52號第23條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
但本條不得當作延展就註有申索陳述書的令狀呈交認收書的時間。 (由1979年第79號第2條修訂)

在任何休庭期內作出的每一作為、事宜或事情，在各方面均屬有效，猶如是在休庭期外作出的一樣。

條：	32	在高等法院的法律程序須由單一名法官處置	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)除《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第41及42條、本條第(3)款及法院規則另有規定外，在原訟法庭的每項法律程序及因其產生的一切事務，均須由一名原訟法庭法官單獨開庭聆訊及裁定。

(2)每宗訴訟或事宜在審訊或聆訊以後的法律程序，直至並包括最終判決或命令，以及任何上訴許可或擱置執行的申請，在切實可行及適宜的範圍內，須在原來審訊或聆訊的原訟法庭法官席前進行。

(3)終審法院首席法官可指示在原訟法庭的任何法律程序或任何類別的法律程序，須由2名或多

於2名的法院法官聆訊及裁定。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	32A	在法庭及內庭的法律程序	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在原訟法庭的事務，須在法庭聆訊及處置，但根據本成文法則或任何其他成文法則或按照法院常規可在內庭處理者除外。 (由1987年第52號第24條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 67 U.K.]

條：	33	法官在內庭的權力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)在符合法院規則的情況下，在所有可由一名英格蘭高等法院大法官在內庭聆訊或由法院規則指示或批准可如此聆訊的訟案和事宜以及該等訟案或事宜中的所有法律程序中，一名原訟法庭法官可在內庭行使歸於原訟法庭的全部或任何部分司法管轄權。

(2) 一名在法庭進行聆訊的原訟法庭法官，須當作構成一個原訟法庭法庭。

(由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1925 c. 49 s. 61 U.K.]

條：	33A	在原訟法庭由陪審團作審訊	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 凡在訴訟的任何一方提出申請時，原訟法庭信納所爭論的是─

(a) 就永久形式誹謗、短暫形式誹謗、惡意檢控、非法禁錮或誘姦提出的申索；或

(3): 一宗須在原訟法庭審訊的訴訟，如並無憑藉第(1)款而成為須在有陪審團的情況下審訊，則除非法院在行使其酌情決定權時命令該宗訴訟須在有陪審團的情況下審訊，否則須在沒有陪審團的情況下審訊。
(4): 第(1)至(3)款對法庭按照法院規則命令在任何訴訟中出現的不同事實問題以不同審訊方式審訊的權力，並無影響；而凡有上述命令作出，第(1)款只對與該款所述的申索、問題或爭論點有關的問題具有效力。
(5): 凡為處置任何正在原訟法庭由法官在有陪審團的情況下審訊的訴訟或其他事宜，而有需要對任何其他地方適用於有關案件的事實的法律加以確定，則任何關於就該法律所提證據的效力的問題，須由法官單獨決定而非提交陪審團決定。

(由1987年第52號第25條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 69 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

本條是關於行使其刑事司法管轄權的上訴法庭；而在本條中，“法庭”(Court)指行使該司法管轄權的上訴法庭。 (由1987年第52號第26條代替)
(2) 就對任何屬以下情況的上訴作裁定而言─
(a)以申請重新審訊的方式提出的上訴或為將原訟法庭的任何訟案或事宜的裁決、裁斷或判決作廢而提出的上訴，而該訟案或事宜或其中的任何爭論點已在有陪審團的情況下進行審訊；或

(b) 根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第IV部提出的上訴，法庭如是由非偶數而不少於3名的上訴法庭法官組成，即屬妥為組成。 (由1987年第52號第26條代替)
(2A) 為裁定根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第83G及83H條提出只針對判刑的上訴，法庭如是由2名上訴法庭法官組成，即屬妥為組成。 (由1987年第52號第26條增補)

任何一名法官不得以上訴法庭成員身分在以下上訴聆訊中參加審訊，或裁定以下上訴的附帶或初步法律程序中的任何申請─

(a) 來自他所作出的判決或命令的上訴；或
(b) 針對在他席前作出的定罪判決或他所處的刑罰而提出的上訴。

除第(6)款另有規定外，凡3名或多於3名的上訴法庭法官所組成的上訴法庭進行聆訊，由進行聆訊的上訴法庭法官的過半數作出的判決或命令，須當作為上訴法庭的判決或命令，但如無由進行聆訊的上訴法庭法官的過半數作出的判決或命令，則遭上訴的判決或命令須當作為上訴法庭的判決或命令。
凡只由2名上訴法庭法官組成的上訴法院進行聆訊，而該2名上訴法庭法官意見分歧，則遭上訴的判決或命令所受的改動，須僅以可被他們在沒有分歧下作出的命令所修改或影響的範圍為限：

但─

(a)如遭上訴的判決或命令並無被如此修改或影響，則該判決或命令須當作為上訴法庭的判決或命令；或

(b)如遭上訴的判決或命令被如此修改或影響，則該被如此修改或影響的判決或命令須當作為上訴法庭的判決或命令。

在根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第IV部提出的上訴中，如並無2名上訴法庭法官就須作出的判決或命令達成一致意見，則─
(a) 原審法官的判決或命令；或

(b) (如無該判決或命令)院長的判決或命令，須當作為上訴法庭的判決。
(7) 就本條及第34A條而言，根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)第IV部提出的上訴，包括對根據該條例第81條保留以待上訴法庭考慮的法律問題的考慮、對律政司司長根據該條例第81A條提出的

任何判刑覆核申請的考慮，以及對律政司司長根據該條例第81D條轉交的法律問題的考慮。 (由1979年第20號第10條修訂；由1997年第362號法律公告修訂) (由1987年第52號第26條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	34A	單一名上訴法庭法官在行使刑事司法管轄權的上訴法庭的權力	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1)除第(2)款另有規定外，依據上訴法庭的刑事司法管轄權，上訴法庭任何不涉及上訴的裁定的權力，均可由單一名上訴法庭法官行使，方式與上訴法庭行使該權力的方式相同，並須受相同條文規限。

(2)凡單一名上訴法庭法官拒絕批准一項要求其依據第(1)款行使上訴法庭任何權力的申請，申

請人有權獲上訴法庭就該項申請作出裁定。 (由1987年第52號第27條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	34B	上訴法庭在行使其民事司法管轄權時的組成	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

本條是關於上訴法庭行使其民事司法管轄權的；而在本條中，“法庭”(Court)指行使該司法管轄權的上訴法庭。

就行使其任何司法管轄權而言，法庭如是由非偶數而不少於3名的上訴法庭法官組成，即屬妥為組成。
(3) 凡─
(a)在法庭席前進行的任何法律程序，已有部分由非偶數而多於3名的上訴法庭法官聆訊；及

(b) 法庭的一名或多於一名的成員不能繼續聆訊，則就該等法律程序而言，只要成員數目(不論是否偶數)並無減至少於3名，法庭仍屬妥為組成。

(4) 就以下事務而言，法庭如是由2名上訴法庭法官組成，即屬妥為組成─

(a) 聆訊或裁定任何針對非正審命令或非正審判決的上訴； (aa)聆訊或裁定要求批予上訴許可的申請(要求批予向終審法院提出上訴的上訴許可申請除外)； (由2008年第3號第26條增補)
(ab) 聆訊或裁定關於在法庭席前待決的訟案或事宜的任何非正審的申請； (由2008年第3號第30條增補)

(b) 聆訊或裁定任何針對憑藉第35(1)條行事的單一名上訴法庭法官所作決定的上訴；
(c)聆訊或裁定任何符合下述情況的上訴，即有關各方在聆訊進行前已送交同意書存檔，同意上訴由2名上訴法庭法官聆訊或裁定；
(d)聆訊任何符合下述情況的上訴的餘下部分並裁定該上訴，即該上訴已有部分由3名或多於3名的上訴法庭法官聆訊，但該等上訴法庭法官之中有一名或多於一名不能繼續聆訊，而有關各方已同意由餘下的2名上訴法庭法官聆訊該上訴的餘下部分並就該上訴作裁定；或
(e)聆訊或裁定任何符合下述情況的上訴，即其類別或情況由終審法院首席法官為本款目的所作命令訂明但不包括在(a)至(d)段中者。 (由2008年第3號第26條修訂)

(5) 凡─

(a) 一宗上訴已由屬偶數的上訴法庭法官所組成的法庭聆訊；及

(b) 持不同意見的法庭成員數目相等，則在向終審法院提出任何上訴前，於上訴的任何一方提出申請時，該宗上訴須在非偶數而不少於3名的上訴法庭法官席前重新爭辯並由該等法官裁定。 (由1995年第79號第50條修訂)
在法庭席前待決的任何訟案或事宜中，單一名上訴法庭法官可在任何休庭期內的任何時間，作出臨時命令，防止等待上訴的任何一方的申索受到損害。

(7) 第53條適用於在法庭席前的訟案及事宜，一如其適用於原訟法庭席前的訟案及事宜。

(由1987年第52號第27條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 54 U.K.]

條：	35	單一名法官在上訴法庭的權力	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

除第(3)款另有規定外，依據上訴法庭的民事司法管轄權，任何不涉及向上訴法庭提出上訴的裁定的命令或指示(包括給予許可向上訴法庭提出上訴的命令或指示)，均可由在法庭或內庭進行聆訊的單一名法官作出；而單一名法官亦可同樣地作出他認為適合的臨時命令，防止等待上訴的任何一方的申索受到損害。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2008年第3號第27條修訂)
(2) (由1987年第52號第28條廢除)

由單一名法官根據第(1)款作出的所有命令或指示，均可由上訴法庭撤銷或更改。(由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(4) (由1987年第52號第28條廢除)

條：	36	規定由終審法院首席法官作出的作為亦可由任何法官作出	79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡任何法律或根據任何法律規定或授權任何司法或其他作為由終審法院首席法官或高等法院首席法官行使或作出，該作為(根據《香港終審法院條例》(第484章)為履行或關於履行某項職能而行使或作出者除外)可由任何高等法院法官行使或作出。

(由1995年第79號第50條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	37	高等法院司法常務官	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

第V部

司法常務官及其他人員

(1)高等法院須獲派駐一名司法常務官及委出的高級副司法常務官、副司法常務官及助理司法常務官。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(2) 高級副司法常務官、副司法常務官及助理司法常務官可稱為聆案官。 (由1987年第52號第29

條增補) (由2005年第10號第133條修訂)

條：	37AA	司法常務官、高級副司法常務官、副司法常務官及助理司法常務官的專業資格	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1) 任何人如符合以下條件，即有資格獲委任為司法常務官—

(a)該人有資格在香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的；及

(b)自具有上述資格後，該人已在一段不少於5年的期間或在不同期間而合共不少於5年的期間是—

(i) 在任何上述法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人；
(ii) 按照第37條委任的高級副司法常務官、副司法常務官或助理司法常務官；
(iii) 按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第4或7條委任的區域法院法官；
(iv)按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第14條委任的區域法院司法常務官、區域法院副司法常務官或區域法院助理司法常務官；
(v) 按照《裁判官條例》(第227章)第5條委任的常任裁判官；
(vi) 按照《死因裁判官條例》(第504章)第3條委任的死因裁判官；
(vii) 按照《小額錢債審裁處條例》(第338章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(viii) 按照《勞資審裁處條例》(第25章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(ix) 《律政人員條例》(第87章)第2條所界定的律政人員；
(x) 按照《法律援助條例》(第91章)第3條委任的法律援助署署長、法律援助署副署長、法律援助署助理署長或法律援助主任；
(xi)按照《破產條例》(第6章)第75條委任的破產管理署署長、助理破產管理署署長(法律)、助理首席律師、高級律師或律師；或
(xii)按照《知識產權署署長(設立)條例》(第412章)第3條委任的知識產權署署長、知識產權署副署長、知識產權署助理署長、高級律師或律師。

(2) 任何人如符合以下條件，即有資格獲委任為高級副司法常務官—

(a)該人有資格在香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的；及

(b)自具有上述資格後，該人已在一段不少於5年的期間或在不同期間而合共不少於5年的期間是—

(i) 在任何上述法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人；
(ii) 按照第37條委任的副司法常務官或助理司法常務官；
(iii) 按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第4或7條委任的區域法院法官；
(iv)按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第14條委任的區域法院司法常務官、區域法院副司法常務官或區域法院助理司法常務官；
(v) 按照《裁判官條例》(第227章)第5條委任的常任裁判官；
(vi) 按照《死因裁判官條例》(第504章)第3條委任的死因裁判官；
(vii) 按照《小額錢債審裁處條例》(第338章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(viii) 按照《勞資審裁處條例》(第25章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(ix) 《律政人員條例》(第87章)第2條所界定的律政人員；
(x) 按照《法律援助條例》(第91章)第3條委任的法律援助署署長、法律援助署副署長、法律援助署助理署長或法律援助主任；
(xi)按照《破產條例》(第6章)第75條委任的破產管理署署長、助理破產管理署署長(法律)、助理首席律師、高級律師或律師；或
(xii)按照《知識產權署署長(設立)條例》(第412章)第3條委任的知識產權署署長、知識產權署副署長、知識產權署助理署長、高級律師或律師。

(3) 任何人如符合以下條件，即有資格獲委任為副司法常務官—

(a)該人有資格在香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的；及

(b)自具有上述資格後，該人已在一段不少於5年的期間或在不同期間而合共不少於5年的期間是—

(i) 在任何上述法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人；
(ii) 按照第37條委任的助理司法常務官；
(iii) 按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第4或7條委任的區域法院法官；
(iv)按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第14條委任的區域法院司法常務官、區域法院副司法常務官或區域法院助理司法常務官；
(v) 按照《裁判官條例》(第227章)第5條委任的常任裁判官；
(vi) 按照《死因裁判官條例》(第504章)第3條委任的死因裁判官；
(vii) 按照《小額錢債審裁處條例》(第338章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(viii) 按照《勞資審裁處條例》(第25章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(ix) 《律政人員條例》(第87章)第2條所界定的律政人員；
(x) 按照《法律援助條例》(第91章)第3條委任的法律援助署署長、法律援助署副署長、法律援助署助理署長或法律援助主任；
(xi)按照《破產條例》(第6章)第75條委任的破產管理署署長、助理破產管理署署長(法律)、助理首席律師、高級律師或律師；或
(xii)按照《知識產權署署長(設立)條例》(第412章)第3條委任的知識產權署署長、知識產權署副署長、知識產權署助理署長、高級律師或律師。

(4) 任何人如符合以下條件，即有資格獲委任為助理司法常務官—

(a)該人有資格在香港或任何其他普通法適用地區的任何法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人，而該法院是在民事或刑事事宜上具有無限司法管轄權的；及

(b)自具有上述資格後，該人已在一段不少於5年的期間或在不同期間而合共不少於5年的期間是—

(i) 在任何上述法院執業為大律師、律師或訟辯人；
(ii) 按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第4或7條委任的區域法院法官；
(iii) 按照《區域法院條例》(第336章)第14條委任的區域法院司法常務官、區域法院副司法常務官或區域法院助理司法常務官；
(iv) 按照《裁判官條例》(第227章)第5條委任的常任裁判官；
(v) 按照《死因裁判官條例》(第504章)第3條委任的死因裁判官；
(vi) 按照《小額錢債審裁處條例》(第338章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(vii) 按照《勞資審裁處條例》(第25章)第4條委任的審裁官；
(viii) 《律政人員條例》(第87章)第2條所界定的律政人員；
(ix)按照《法律援助條例》(第91章)第3條委任的法律援助署署長、法律援助署副署長、法律援助署助理署長或法律援助主任；
(x) 按照《破產條例》(第6章)第75條委任的破產管理署署長、助理破產管理署署長(法律)、助理首席律師、高級律師或律師；或
(xi)按照《知識產權署署長(設立)條例》(第412章)第3條委任的知識產權署署長、知識產權署副署長、知識產權署助理署長、高級律師或律師。

(5) 為計算第(1)(b)、(2)(b)、(3)(b)及(4)(b)款提述的5年期間—

(a) 在第(1)(b)、(2)(b)、(3)(b)或(4)(b)款(視屬何情況而定)任何節範圍以內各段不足5年的期間可合併計算；
(b)儘管《註冊總署署長(人事編制)條例》(第100章)已被廢除，擔任該已被廢除條例附表1

第I部所指明的職位的期間仍可計算在內。 (由2005年第10號第134條增補)

條：	37AB	暫委司法常務官的委任	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

如有以下情況，終審法院首席法官可委任任何根據第37AA(1)條有資格獲委任為司法常務官的人為暫委司法常務官—

(a) 司法常務官的職位因任何理由而懸空；或
(b) 終審法院首席法官認為出於執行司法工作的利益需要，應委任一名暫委司法常務官。

在不損害第(1)款所賦予終審法院首席法官的權力的一般性的原則下，終審法院首席法官可委任某人只在一段指明期間內擔任暫委司法常務官。

(3) 終審法院首席法官可隨時終止一名暫委司法常務官的委任。
在本條及第40A條中，“暫委司法常務官”(temporary registrar)指根據第(1)款獲委任為暫委

司法常務官的人。 (由2005年第10號第134條增補)

條：	37AC	暫委高級副司法常務官的委任	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

如有以下情況，終審法院首席法官可委任任何根據第37AA(2)條有資格獲委任為高級副司法常務官的人為暫委高級副司法常務官—

(a) 任何高級副司法常務官的職位因任何理由而懸空；或
(b)終審法院首席法官認為出於執行司法工作的利益需要，應委任一名暫委高級副司法常務官。

在不損害第(1)款所賦予終審法院首席法官的權力的一般性的原則下，終審法院首席法官可委任某人只在一段指明期間內擔任暫委高級副司法常務官。

(3) 終審法院首席法官可隨時終止一名暫委高級副司法常務官的委任。
(4) 一名暫委高級副司法常務官可稱為聆案官。
(5) 在本條及第40A條中，“暫委高級副司法常務官”(temporary senior deputy registrar) 指根據第

款獲委任為暫委高級副司法常務官的人。 (由2005年第10號第134條增補)

如有以下情況，終審法院首席法官可委任任何根據第37AA(3)條有資格獲委任為副司法常務官的人為暫委副司法常務官─ (由2005年第10號第135條修訂)

(a) 任何副司法常務官的職位因任何理由而懸空；或
(b)終審法院首席法官認為為了執行司法工作的利益，有需要委任一名暫委副司法常務官。

在不損害第(1)款所賦予終審法院首席法官的權力的一般性的原則下，終審法院首席法官可只委任一名暫委副司法常務官一段指明期間的任期。

(3) 終審法院首席法官可在任何時間終止一名暫委副司法常務官的委任。
(4) 一名暫委副司法常務官可稱為聆案官。

(5) 在本條及第40A條中，“暫委副司法常務官”(temporary deputy registrar) 指一名獲根據第(1)款委任為暫委副司法常務官的人。
(由1997年第1號第5條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

如有以下情況，終審法院首席法官可委任任何根據第37AA(4)條有資格獲委任為助理司法常務官的人為暫委助理司法常務官─ (由2005年第10號第136條修訂)

(a) 任何助理司法常務官的職位因任何理由而懸空；或
(b)終審法院首席法官認為為了執行司法工作的利益，有需要委任一名暫委助理司法常務官。

在不損害第(1)款所賦予終審法院首席法官的權力的一般性的原則下，終審法院首席法官可只委任一名暫委助理司法常務官一段指明期間的任期。

(3) 終審法院首席法官可在任何時間終止一名暫委助理司法常務官的委任。
(4) 一名暫委助理司法常務官可稱為聆案官。
(5) 在本條及第40A條中，“暫委助理司法常務官”(temporary assistant registrar) 指一名獲根據第

款委任為暫委助理司法常務官的人。 (由1997年第1號第5條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	37A	暫委副司法常務官的委任	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

條：	37B	暫委助理司法常務官的委任	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

條：	38	司法常務官的司法管轄權、權力及職責	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 司法常務官具有並可行使及履行─

(a)英格蘭及威爾斯最高法院的聆案官、司法常務官及相類人員所具有並可行使及履行的相同司法管轄權、權力及職責；及
(b) 由或根據法院規則或任何其他法律賦予或施加於他的其他司法管轄權、權力及職責。

在符合法院規則的情況下，所有賦予或施加於司法常務官的司法管轄權、權力及職責，均

可由聆案官具有、行使或履行。 (由1987年第52號第30條修訂)

條：	38A	執達主任	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

高等法院須有一名執達主任連同委出的助理執達主任，以按照法院規則完成交付羈押的命令，並送達兼執行法院的法律程序文件。 (由1987年第52號第31條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	39	司法常務官的保障	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 不得因以下事宜而針對司法常務官提出訴訟─

第 4章 -高等法院條例

(a) 任何執達主任在沒有司法常務官的指示下作出或遺漏作出的任何作為；或

(b) 就法律程序文件的執行或不執行而給予任何執達主任的任何指示，如─

(i) 該等指示符合原訟法庭根據第40條作出的命令；及 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(ii) 司法常務官並無故意對任何具關鍵性的事實作出失實陳述或加以隱瞞。

(2) 在本條中─ “司法常務官”(Registrar) 包括聆案官。 (由1987年第52號第32條修訂)

條：	40	司法常務官可申請命令	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

司法常務官在有疑問或困難時，可循簡易程序向原訟法庭申請給予執達主任指示及指引的命令，而原訟法庭可就有關事宜作出看來是公正合理的命令。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	40A	終止委任時暫委司法常務官等在已進行部分聆訊的案件中的權力	10 of 2005	08/07/2005

(1)如在暫委司法常務官席前進行的任何法律程序的聆訊被押後，或如暫委司法常務官在任何法律程序中保留判決，則即使暫委司法常務官的委任已屆滿或已終止，暫委司法常務官仍具有權力恢復聆訊，並就該等法律程序作出裁定或宣告判決。

(2)第(1)款適用於暫委高級副司法常務官、暫委副司法常務官或暫委助理司法常務官，一如其

適用於暫委司法常務官。 (由1997年第1號第6條增補。由2005年第10號第137條修訂)

條：	41	原訟法庭在法律程序展開前命令將文件披露等的權力	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

第VI部

文件透露及有關程序

(1)如原訟法庭覺得相當可能會是後來在該法院進行的法律程序的一方的人按照法院規則提出申請，而在該法律程序中相當可能會有申索提出，則原訟法庭在法院規則所指明的情況下，具有權力命令原訟法庭覺得相當可能會是該法律程序的一方，並相當可能在現時或曾經管有、保管或控制任何與該宗申索中出現或相當可能會出現的爭論點直接有關的文件的人─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2008年第3號第14條修訂)

(a) 披露他是否管有、保管或控制該等文件；及

(b)將該等文件之中由他管有、保管或控制的文件向申請人交出，或按命令所指明的條件 ─

(i) 向申請人的法律顧問交出；

(ii) 向申請人的法律顧問以及申請人的任何醫學或其他專業顧問交出；或

(iii) (如申請人並無法律顧問)向申請人的任何醫學或其他專業顧問交出。 (由1987年第52號第33條代替) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 33 U.K.]

(2)就第(1)款而言，任何文件在符合下列描述的情況下，方可視為與在預期的法律程序的申索中出現或相當可能會出現的爭論點直接有關—

(a) 該份文件相當可能會被法律程序中的任何一方引用為證據；或

(b) 該份文件支持任何一方的論據或對任何一方的論據有不良影響。(由2008年第3號第14

條增補) [比照 1970 c. 31 s. 31 U.K.]

條：	42	原訟法庭的權力擴及命令披露文件、檢查財產等	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

如法律程序的一方按照法院規則提出申請，而在該法律程序中有申索提出，則原訟法庭在法院規則所指明的情況下，具有權力命令一名並非該法律程序的一方、但原訟法庭覺得相當可能在現時或曾經管有、保管或控制任何與該宗申索中出現的爭論點有關的文件的人─ (由2008年第3號第17條修訂)

(a) 披露他是否管有、保管或控制該等文件；及

(b)將該等文件之中由他管有、保管或控制的文件向申請人交出，或按命令所指明的條件 ─

(i) 向申請人的法律顧問交出；
(ii) 向申請人的法律顧問以及申請人的任何醫學或其他專業顧問交出；或
(iii) (如申請人並無法律顧問)向申請人的任何醫學或其他專業顧問交出。 (由1987年第52號第34條代替) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 34 U.K.]

如第(1)款所提述的任何法律程序的一方按照法院規則提出申請，原訟法庭在法院規則所指明的情況下，具有權力作出命令，就以下任何一項或多於一項事宜作出規定─

(a)某項財產的檢查、攝影、保存、保管及扣留事宜，而該項財產並非該等法律程序的任何一方的財產或由其管有，但卻是該等法律程序的標的物，或是在該等法律程序中有問題就該項財產而產生的；
(b) (a)段所述財產的樣本抽取事宜，以及對該項財產或以該項財產進行任何實驗的事宜。

(3) 第(1)及(2)款並不損害原訟法庭除根據該等條文外行使任何作出命令的權力。

(4) 在本條中─ “財產”(property) 包括任何土地、實產或其他任何類別的有體財產。
(由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1970 c. 31 s. 32 U.K.]

根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括就可根據第41或42條作出命令的情況而訂立法院規則的權力；而任何該等規則，可包括規則委員會認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文。
在不損害第(1)款的一般性的原則下，須訂立法院規則，以確保除非原訟法庭另有指示，否則在尋求根據第41及42條作出命令的法律程序中，所尋求的命令所針對的人，會獲判給他所招致的該等法律程序的訟費及附帶費用。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	43	第41及42條的補充條文	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(3) (由2008年第3號第18條廢除) [比照 1970 c. 31 s. 33 U.K.]

條：	44	原訟法庭在訴訟展開前可行使的權力	25 of 1998	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第 4章 -高等法院條例

如任何人按照法院規則提出申請，原訟法庭在法院規則所指明的情況下，具有權力作出命令，就以下任何一項或多於一項事宜作出規定─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a)某項財產的檢查、攝影、保存、保管及扣留事宜，而法庭覺得該項財產可能會成為後來在法庭進行的法律程序的標的物，或覺得在該等法律程序中可能有問題就該項財產而產生；及
(b) (a)段所述財產的樣本抽取事宜，以及對該項財產或以該項財產進行任何實驗的事宜。

訂立法院規則的權力，包括就可提出申請該項命令的方式以及就可作出該項命令的情況而訂立法院規則的權力；而任何該等規則，可包括規則委員會認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文。

(3) 在本條中─

“財產”(property) 包括任何土地、實產或其他任何類別的有體財產。 [比照 1969 c. 58 s. 21 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在本款適用的任何法律程序中，任何人不得以如此行事會令他本人或其妻子或丈夫面對就相關罪行或就追討相關罰金而進行的法律程序為理由而獲免─

(a) 在首述的法律程序中回答向他提出的任何問題；或
(b) 遵從在該等法律程序中作出的命令。

(2) 第(1)款適用於以下在原訟法庭進行的民事法律程序，即─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 就與任何知識產權有關的權利的侵犯或就假冒而進行的法律程序；
(b) 為使有關該等權利的任何侵犯或有關任何假冒的資料得以披露而提出的法律程序；及
(c)為防止任何惟恐會發生的該等權利的侵犯或任何惟恐會發生的假冒而提出的法律程序。

除第(4)款另有規定外，某人在《1982年最高法院(修訂)(第3號)條例》(1982年第52號)生效日期或該日期後，為─
(a) 回答在第(1)款適用的法律程序中向他提出的問題；或

(b) 遵從在任何該等法律程序中作出的任何命令，而作出的陳述或承認，在任何就相關罪行或就追討任何相關罰金而進行的法律程序中，不得接納為針對該人或針對該人的妻子或丈夫的證據(除非他們是在上述陳述或承認作出後始結婚)。
某人在第(3)款所述情況下作出的任何陳述或承認，在就偽證罪或藐視法庭罪而進行的法律程序中，第(3)款並不使其成為不得接納為針對該人的證據。
(5) 在本條中─ “知識產權”(intellectual property) 指任何專利、商標、版權、註冊設計、技術或商業資料或其他知識

產權； “相關罪行”(related offence)，就第(1)款適用的任何法律程序而言─

(a) 在屬第(2)(a)或(b)款範圍內的法律程序中─

(i) 指作出與該等法律程序有關的侵犯或假冒而犯的任何罪行，或指在與該等法律程序有關的侵犯或假冒的過程中所犯的任何罪行；或

(ii) 指非屬第(i)節範圍內，但與該項侵犯或假冒有關而犯的任何罪行，而該罪行是涉及欺詐或不誠實的罪行；

(b)在屬第(2)(c)款範圍內的法律程序中，指原告人在該等法律程序中倚據的事實所揭露的

任何罪行； “相關罰金”(related penalty)，就第(1)款適用的任何法律程序而言─

(a)在屬第(2)(a)或(b)款範圍內的法律程序中，指就與侵犯或假冒相關所作出或遺漏作出的任何事情而招致的任何罰金，而該等侵犯或假冒是與該等法律程序有關的；

(b)在屬第(2)(c)款範圍內的法律程序中，指因原告人在該等法律程序中倚據的事實所揭露的作為或不作為而招致的任何罰金。

本條中凡提述任何一類在原訟法庭進行的民事法律程序之處，包括提述因該類在原訟法庭進行的民事法律程序而引致的上訴法律程序。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(由1982年第52號第2條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 72 U.K.]

凡原訟法庭覺得任何財產(須為第44條所指者)可能會成為日後進行的法律程序的標的物，則第44條在與該財產有關的範圍內，對政府具約束力。 (由2008年第3號第19條修訂)
(2) 第41、42及43條對政府具約束力。

原訟法庭如認為遵從根據第41、42或44條作出的命令，相當可能會令公眾利益受到損害，則不得根據第41、42或44條作出命令。

條：	45	第41至44條對政府的適用範圍	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由1998年第29號第105條修訂) [比照 1970 c. 31 s. 35 U.K.]

條：	46	令狀	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第VII部

雜項及補充條文

令狀 (由1987年第52號第35條代替)

(1) 除附表所列的令狀外，其餘所有令狀一概取消。
(2) 附表所列的令狀須按照普通法發出，但僅以普通法未被成文法則修改的範圍為限。 (由1987年第52號第36條代替)

條：	47	(由1997年第47號第10條廢除)	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第 4章 -高等法院條例

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

利息

除法院規則另有規定外，在原訟法庭席前進行的追討債項或損害賠償的法律程序中(不論在何時提起)，在判令獲得的任何款項中可加上按法院認為適合或法院規則訂定的利率計算的單利，該筆單利須就判令獲得的全部或部分債項或損害賠償，或就在判決作出前已繳付的全部或部分債項或損害賠償計算，日期以訴訟因由產生的日期與以下日期之間的全部或部分期間計算─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 就任何在判決作出前已繳付的款項而言，為繳付該筆款項的日期；及
(b) 就判令獲得的款項而言，為判決日期。

(2) 就因人身傷害或死亡而判令獲得損害賠償超逾$30000的判決而言，第(1)款經以下變通而具有效力─

(a) 由“須加上”取代“可加上”；及
(b) 在“在判令獲得的任何款項中”後，加上“(除非法庭信納有特別的相反理由)”。

(3) 除法院規則另有規定外，凡─
(a) 有追討債項的法律程序(不論在何時提起)在原訟法庭席前進行；及 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(b) 被告人向原告人償付全部債項(並非依據在有關法律程序中作出的判決而償付)，被告人有法律責任就全部或部分債項向原告人繳付按法院認為適合或法院規則訂定的利率計算的利息，日期以訴訟因由出現的日期與債項償付的日期之間的全部或部分期間計算。

(4) 如一筆債項的利息已在某段期間孳生(不論原因為何)，則不得根據本條判給該筆債項在該段期間的利息。
(5) 根據本條判給的利息，可就不同期間按不同利率計算。

為免生疑問，現宣布為施行《區域法院條例》(第336章)第IV部所載的任何成文法則，在決定一筆款項是否超逾或低於該部所指明的款項時，不得考慮任何憑藉本條可予行使的權力或任何在行使該權力時所作出的命令。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(7) 本條不影響就匯票不兌現而可予追討的損害賠償。

(8) 在本條中─ “人身傷害”(personal injuries) 包括任何疾病以及任何個人身體上或精神上的損傷； “原告人”(plaintiff) 指索求債項或損害賠償的人；及 “被告人”(defendant) 指被原告人索求債項或損害賠償的人。

(由1987年第52號第37條代替) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 35A U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 判定債項的總額或判定債項當其時尚未清償的部分須帶有單利─

(a) 利率按原訟法庭所命令者計算；或

(b) 如無該項命令時，利率則按終審法院首席法官不時藉命令所決定者計算，由有關判決的日期起計，直至清償為止。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(2) 本條所指的利息，可就不同期間按不同利率計算。 (由1987年第52號第38條代替)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

藐視法庭罪

除本條另有規定外，可提出來自任何並非上訴法庭的法庭行使司法管轄權懲罰藐視法庭罪(包括刑事藐視罪)的命令或決定的上訴；而就任何該等命令或決定而言，本條具有效力，並取代任何其他關於在民事或刑事法律程序中的上訴的法律。
凡在任何案件中，有藐視法庭的法律程序針對任何人而提出，或有針對任何人而作出上述命令，則該人可根據本條向上訴法庭提出上訴，而就交付羈押或扣押的申請而言，則上訴可由申請人向上訴法庭提出。

上訴法庭在有人提出上訴後，可推翻或更改任何法庭所作出的命令或決定，並作出公正的其他命令；而在不損害任何法庭給予保釋的權力的原則下，法院規則可作出規定，批准根據本條將上訴人在保釋的情況下釋放。
(4) 在本條中─

(a) “法庭”(court) 包括任何有權力懲罰藐視罪的審裁處或人；及
(b)凡提述法庭行使司法管轄權懲罰藐視法庭罪而作出的命令或決定之處，包括提述法庭根據任何使其得以將某項罪行當作藐視法庭罪般處理的法律而作出的命令或決定。

本條不適用於根據《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)可予提出上訴的定罪判決或刑罰，亦不適用於上訴法庭根據該條例作出的決定；而就該條例及本款而言，一項為懲罰某人在他有權就本身的刑罰提出上訴的法律程序中所犯的藐視法庭罪而作出的命令，須被視為該刑罰的一部分。

(由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1960 c. 65 s. 13 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

印章、開支及訟費 (由1987年第52號第35條代替)

(1) 高等法院須使用終審法院首席法官所指示使用的印章。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(2) 所有令狀、判決書、命令、文件及其經蓋章核對的謄本或文本，均須蓋上該印章。

(3)任何令狀、判決書、命令、文件及其任何經蓋章核對的謄本或文本，如看來是蓋上該印章，在任何法庭席前進行的任何刑事或民事法律程序中，一經交出，即須接納為證據而無須再加證明。

(由1982年第44號第4條代替) 附註：

條：	52	開支	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在高等法院進行的任何法律程序中，法官可命令將一名證人所合理及恰當招致的開支償還該名證人。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	52A	原訟法庭及行使民事司法管轄權的上訴法庭的訟費	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

除法院規則的條文另有規定外，所有行使民事司法管轄權的上訴法庭的法律程序及原訟法庭的法律程序的訟費及附帶費用，包括遺產管理及信託管理的費用，均須由法院酌情決定，法院並有全權決定該等訟費須由何人支付及須支付訟費的範圍。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

在不損害第(1)款的一般性的原則下，如上訴法庭或原訟法庭(視屬何情況而定)信納作出命令，判並非有關法律程序一方的人支付訟費屬秉行公正，則上訴法庭或原訟法庭可按照法院規則如此作出命令。 (由2008年第3號第31條代替)
(3) 第(1)款並不更改任何刑事訟案或事宜的常規或破產常規。

在上訴法庭或原訟法庭席前進行的任何民事法律程序中，上訴法庭或原訟法庭可按照法院規則，藉命令否決任何虛耗訟費的全部或部分，或命令有關的法律代表支付任何虛耗訟費的全部或部分。 (由2008年第3號第22條增補)
在決定是否根據第(4)款作出命令時，上訴法庭或原訟法庭除須考慮所有其他有關情況外，亦須考慮在辯論式訴訟的司法制度下進行無顧忌訟辯的利益。 (由2008年第3號第22條增補)

在第(4)款中，“虛耗訟費”(wasted costs)指法律程序的一方因任何法律代表個人作出或透過其僱員或代理人作出的下述行為而招致的任何訟費—

(a) 任何不恰當或不合理的作為或不作為；或
(b) 任何不當的延誤或其他不當行為或過失。 (由2008年第3號第22條增補)

(7) 在本條中，“法律代表”(legal representative) 就任何法律程序的一方而言，指代表該方進行訴訟的大律師或律師。 (由2008年第3號第22條增補)

(由1987年第52號第39條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 51 U.K.]

條：	52B	只涉訟費的法律程序	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

(1) 凡—

(a) 爭議的各方已就所有爭議點(包括誰人須支付爭議的訟費及附帶訟費)達成協議；

(b) 該協議已以書面達成或確認；

(d) 各方沒有就該爭議的訟費及附帶訟費的數額達成協議，本條即適用。
(2): 除任何其他條例另有規定外，協議任何一方可按照法院規則展開法律程序，要求就有關爭議的訟費及附帶訟費作出命令。

條：	52C	將只涉訟費的法律程序移交區域法院	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

院。

(2) 在法律程序的任何階段中，均可根據本條作出命令。

(由2008年第3號第3條增補)

條：	52D	評定根據第 52A或52B條所裁斷的訟費的訟費收費表	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

凡上訴法庭或原訟法庭根據第52A(1)或(2)或52B(3)條就訟費作出裁斷，該法庭可命令該等訟費按照下述規則評定—

(a) 《高等法院規則》(第4章，附屬法例A)第62號命令附表1及附表2；或
(b) 《區域法院規則》(第336章，附屬法例H)第62號命令附表1及附表2。

(2)凡根據第52B(3)條就訟費作出的裁斷是由司法常務官或聆案官作出的，則原訟法庭根據第

款具有的關乎該等訟費的權力，可由司法常務官或該聆案官(視屬何情況而定)行使。 (由2008年第3號第3條增補)

條：	53	裁判委員	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

裁判委員

(1)在任何民事法律程序中，原訟法庭可邀請一名或多於一名的具特別資格的裁判委員協助，並可在該名或該等裁判委員的協助下，將該等法律程序全部或部分處置，但原訟法庭的決定須為法官的決定。

(2) 原訟法庭可就裁判委員所提供的服務，釐定須予支付的酬金(如有的話)：

但本款並不授權支付酬金予任何受僱全職擔任受薪官方職位的人。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	54	法院規則	L.N. 18 of 2009	02/04/2009

規則

(1)根據第55條組成的規則委員會，可訂立法院規則，規管並訂明就高等法院有司法管轄權的所有各類訟案及事宜而須在高等法院遵行的程序(包括作訴的方法)及常規(包括須在高等法院各登記處遵行的程序及常規)，以及規管並訂明該程序或常規所附帶引起或與該程序或常規有關的任何事宜。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(2) 在不損害第(1)款的一般性的原則下，法院規則可就以下目的而訂立─

(a)訂明與原訟法庭和區域法院之間以及與原訟法庭和土地審裁處之間的法律程序移交相關連的程序； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2008年第3號第44條修訂)

(b)訂明可由司法常務官或聆案官行使的高等法院司法管轄權(包括針對行使該管轄權所作的決定提出上訴的規定)； (由1987年第52號第40條修訂；由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(c)規管與行使民事司法管轄權的上訴法庭的法律程序以及原訟法庭的法律程序(包括與遺產管理以及信託管理有關的法律程序)的費用及訟費相關連的事宜；(由1987年第52號第40條代替。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(d) (由1987年第52號第40條廢除)

(e)訂明在何種情況下，與某宗訟案或事宜有利害關係的人即使缺席仍須受任何在該宗訟案或事宜中所作出的命令約束；

(f)訂明可在何種情況下及可用何種方式將案件呈交或提交特別裁判人處理，有關各方如何就此受約束及約束達到何種程度及有何後果；並訂明特別裁判人的委任、權力及職責，以及在該等特別裁判人席前進行的法律程序；

(g) 規管監誓員的委任及職責，該等委任的撤銷及附帶事宜；

(h) 規管高等法院法律程序文件的執行，包括─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(i) 禁止判定債務人及被民事申索所針對的人離開香港，並命令在訂明的情況下向他們支付賠償；

(ii) 命令判定債務人或屬法團的判定債務人的高級人員出庭接受訊問並對其訊問；及

(iii) 逮捕並監禁判定債務人； (由1984年第1號第3條修訂)

(i) 規管迄今為止可受或曾受法院規則所規定或規管的事宜；

(j) 訂明仲裁程序的各方將款項繳存高等法院的程序；以及在不損害本段的一般性的原則下，亦訂明─

(i) 仲裁程序的任何一方接受該筆繳存高等法院的款項對有關仲裁程序的影響；

(ii) 在仲裁程序的任何一方將款項繳存高等法院後，仲裁員可在何種情況下將他所作裁決中與支付提交仲裁的訟費有關的部分修訂；及

(iii) 規則委員會認為與仲裁程序的各方將款項繳存高等法院有關的需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文； (由1982年第43號第2條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(k)規定如有需要將一份已在任何登記處存檔或正由任何登記處保管的文件在高等法院以外地方開庭的任何法庭或審裁處(包括公斷人或仲裁員)交出─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(i) 任何人員(不論有否就此而獲送達傳召出庭令)均無須為交出該份文件而出庭；但

(ii) 可將該份文件以法院規則所訂明的方式送交該法庭或審裁處而在該法庭或審裁處交出，並須附同一份採用法院規則所訂明的格式的證明書，說明該份文件已在該登記處存檔或正由該登記處保管，

而任何該等證明書，即為其內所陳述事實的表面證據；及 (由1987年第52號第40條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 136 U.K.]

(n( �/span> 訂明在尋求作出履行義務令、禁止令或移審令或進行法律程序以要求根據第21J條授予強制令時所須遵行的程序，包括以下規定─

(i) 除法院規則所指明的情況外，在提出任何該等命令的申請前，或在該等法律程序

展開前，須先行取得許可；及

(ii) 凡已取得許可如上，除非經法庭許可，否則不得批予提出許可申請時所指明的濟助以外的濟助，亦不得倚據提出許可申請時所指明的理由以外的理由。 (由1987年第52號第40條增補)

(2A) 就第(2)(k)款所提述的事宜作出規定的規則，可載有─

(a)確保依據法院規則送交某法庭或某審裁處的文件獲得妥善保管並歸還登記處的條文；及

(b)規則委員會覺得需要或合宜的附帶及補充條文。 (由1987年第52號第40條增補) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 136 U.K.]

(3) (由1989年第3號第3條廢除)

根據本條訂立法院規則的權力，包括就由官方提出或針對官方提出的法律程序而訂立規則的權力。
根據本條訂立的法院規則，在其有明文表示適用於所有由官方提出或針對官方提出的法律程序的情況下，對該等法律程序適用。

(1) 法院規則由規則委員會訂立，該委員會由以下人員組成─

(a) 高等法院首席法官，並由他擔任主席一職； (由2005年第10號第8條修訂)

(b) 高等法院首席法官所委任的高等法院法官2名； (由1982年第52號第3條代替。由1987年第52號第41條修訂；由2005年第10號第8條修訂)

(d) 香港大律師公會提名的大律師2名；

(e) 香港律師會提名的律師2名；

(f) 律政司司長或一名由律政司司長委任的律政人員。 (由1980年第53號第2條增補。由1997年第362號法律公告修訂)

(1A) 司法常務官或由高等法院首席法官根據第(1)(c)款委任的聆案官為規則委員會的秘書。 (由1982年第52號第3條增補。由1987年第52號第41條修訂；由2005年第10號第8條修訂)

(2) 如同時有一名大律師及一名律師出席，5名規則委員會的成員即構成法定人數。
(3) (由1987年第52號第41條廢除) (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括藉任何該等規則而就以下各方面作出規定的權力─

(a)在未有授予遺囑認證或遺產管理的情況下，使法律程序能針對死者遺產在原訟法庭展開(不論是以委任某人代表死者遺產的方式或以其他方式)；

(b)使看來已由某人或針對某人在原訟法庭展開的法律程序(如該人在該等法律程序展開時已經去世)被視為由該人遺產展開或針對該人遺產展開(視屬何情況而定)，而不論遺囑認證或遺產管理是否已在該等法律程序展開前授予；及

(c)使任何由死者遺產或針對死者遺產在原訟法庭展開或被視為如此展開的法律程序，可

由獲委任代表死者遺產的人繼續進行或針對該人繼續進行(不論是藉替換法律程序各方、修訂或其他方式)，或在有遺囑認證或遺產管理授予的情況下，能由死者的遺產代理人繼續進行或針對該人繼續進行(視屬何情況而定)。

(由1987年第52號第42條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) [比照 1981 c. 54 s. 87(2) U.K.]

根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括訂立規則以規管以下事宜的權力：某些特定事實的證明方法，可在行使民事司法管轄權的上訴法庭的任何法律程序或原訟法庭的任何法律程序中提供該等特定事實的證據的方式，或在有任何與該等法律程序相關連的申請或在該等法律程序的任何階段作出的申請提出後，提供上述證據的方式。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(2)-(5) (由1999年第2號第6條廢除)

就憑藉本條訂立的任何規則而言，在決定某人是否適合出庭作為證人時，法庭可按照一份看來是註冊醫生發出的證明書行事。
(7) (由1999年第2號第6條廢除)

即使憑藉任何成文法則或法律規則，為待決的民事法律程序或預計進行的民事法律程序而擬備或與法律意見的取得或給予有關而擬備的文件，在某些情況下享有免予披露的特權，憑藉本條訂立的規則仍可作出規定─

(a)使法庭能在任何民事法律程序中，就醫療事宜或其指示所指明的任何其他類別事宜，指示有關各方或其中一方或多於一方，須個別在指定日期(或按照規則而經准許或同意的較後日期)或之前，以一份或多於一份的專家報告的形式，向另一方或其他各方披露與其擬在審訊中援引作為其案的一部分的該類別事宜有關的專家證據；及
(b)禁止沒有遵從法庭根據依據(a)段訂立的規則在任何該等法律程序中作出的指示的一方，憑藉《證據條例》(第8章)第IV部，援引載於任何專家報告並與該指示所指明的任何類別事宜有關的範圍之內的陳述(不論屬於事實或意見)作為證據，但經法庭許可者不在此限。 (由1999年第2號第6條修訂)

憑藉本條訂立的規則，可就在民事法律程序中提供專家口頭證據所須受規限的條件作出規定。
(10)在不損害第(9)款的一般性的原則下，依據該款訂立的規則可作出規定，禁止沒有遵從在第

(b)款所述情況下作出的指示的一方，援引與該指示所指明的任何類別事宜有關的專家口頭證據，但經法庭許可者不在此限。
憑藉本條訂立的任何規則，可就不同類別案件、有關不同類別事宜的專家報告，以及其他不同情況，作出不同規定。

(12) 在本條中，凡提述一份專家報告之處，即提述一份由有資格(或如在生則會有資格)就某些事

宜提供專家證據的人全部或主要就該等事宜而擬備的書面報告。 (由1987年第52號第42條增補)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(1) 在本條中─ “停止令”(stop order)指原訟法庭作出的一項命令，禁止就命令所指明的任何保證物採取第(4)款所

述的任何步驟； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

“停止通知書”(stop notice)指一份通知書，規定其所妥為送達的人，不得在未有預先通知送達通知書的人或通知書是代其送達的人的情況下，就通知書所指明的任何保證物採取第(4)款所述的任何步驟；及

“訂明的保證物”(prescribed securities) 指屬於憑藉本條訂立的法院規則所訂明種類的保證物(包括存於法院的儲存金)。

(2) 根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括藉該等規則作出以下規定的權力─

(a) 法庭可應任何聲稱有權享有訂明的保證物的權益的人的申請作出停止令；及
(b) 由任何聲稱有權享有訂明的保證物的權益的人送達停止通知書。

(3) 憑藉本條訂立的法院規則，須訂明任何停止令或停止通知書的文本須向何人送達。

(4) 第(1)款所述的步驟─

(a) 是登記有關保證物的任何轉讓；
(b)就存於法院的儲存金而言，是轉讓、出售、交付、支付或以其他方式處理儲存金或儲存金所產生的入息；
(c) 是就有關保證物以派息、利息或其他方式作出付款；及
(d)就任何單位信託而言，是任何根據該單位信託行使職能的人或團體取得或以其他方式處理有關的單位。

憑藉本條訂立的任何法院規則，可包括規則委員會認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文，並可就不同案件或不同類別的案件，作出不同規定。
(由1987年第52號第42條增補) [比照 1979 c. 53 s. 5 U.K.]

儘管有第49及52A條的規定，根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括以下權力：即作出規定，使司法常務官可在該等規則指明的情況下—

(a) 否決任何依據原訟法庭或上訴法庭作出的訟費命令而評定的全部或部分訟費；
(b)否決本須根據第49條就經評定的訟費而支付的利息的全部或部分，或縮短須為之支付該等利息的期間或調低第49條訂明的該等須予支付的利息的利率；及
(c) 調高第49條訂明的須就經評定的訟費或評定費支付的利息的利率。

(2) 憑藉本條訂立的規則可包括規則委員會認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文。 (由2008年第3號第33條增補)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

根據第54條訂立法院規則的權力，包括作出以下規定的權力，即為使高等法院能在指明的情況下作出命令，規定待決的法律程序的一方作出一筆中期付款，款額由命令指明，付款方法是將款項繳存法院或(如命令有此規定)付給該等法律程序的另一方。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

凡任何該等規則按照第(1)款作出規定，該等規則可包括一項規定，使已依據上述命令作出中期付款的任何法律程序的一方，能在按照該等規則決定的情況下，向按照該等規則決定的該等法律程序的另一方，追討中期付款的全部或部分款項。
(3) 任何憑藉本條訂立的規則，可包括規則委員會認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文。

本條不得解釋為影響任何關於訟費的權力(包括任何訂立關於訟費的法院規則的權力)的行使。

(5) 在本條中─

(a)“中期付款”(interim payment)就任何法律程序的某一方而言，指因該一方可能被判須負法律責任向該等法律程序的另一方支付或為使該另一方得益而支付的任何損害賠償、債項或其他款項(訟費除外)而作的付款(如在該等法律程序中，法庭作出的最終判決或命令是判該另一方勝訴)；及
(b)凡提述任何法律程序的一方，包括提述為進行該等法律程序而擔任該等法律程序的一方的起訴監護人或監護人的人。

在本條所適用的法律程序可由官方按照《官方法律程序條例》(第300章)提出或可由任何人

按照該條例針對官方提出的範圍內，本條對官方具約束力。 [比照 1969 c. 58 s. 20 U.K.]

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

本條適用於就人身傷害要求獲得損害賠償的訴訟，而在該等訴訟中，下述事宜已得證明或已獲承認，即傷者會有機會在將來某明確或不明確的時間，因產生訴訟因由的作為或不作為而罹患某種嚴重疾病或身體或精神方面出現某種嚴重惡化情況。

在符合第(4)款的規定下，法院規則可就本條適用而又經原訟法庭作出判決的損害賠償訴訟作出規定，使法庭能在訂明的情況下將以下的損害賠償判給傷者─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

(a) 假定傷者不會罹患該疾病或出現該惡化情況而評估的損害賠償；及
(b) 傷者如罹患該疾病或出現該惡化情況便會在將來的日期獲得的進一步損害賠償。

任何憑藉本條訂立的規則，可包括有關的規則訂立主管當局認為需要或合宜的附帶、補充及相應條文，並可規定傷者有權選擇是否接受按照該等規則而評估的損害賠償裁決。

(4) 本條不得解釋為─

(a) 影響任何關於訟費的權力的行使，包括任何訂立關於訟費的法院規則的權力；或

(b)損害法庭根據任何成文法則或法律規則削減或限制任何損害賠償總額的職責，而該損害賠償總額是在假若該職責並不存在本可予以追討的。

(由1986年第40號第5條增補) [比照 1982 c. 53 s. 6 U.K.]

高等法院首席法官可訂立規則，規管─ (由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2005年第10號第11條修訂)

(a)訴訟人的款項、保證物及動產在高等法院的存放、繳存、支出、交付、轉撥、轉入及轉出； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(b)上述存放、繳存、支出、交付、轉撥、轉入或轉出的證據，以及存於法院的款項、保證物及動產的投資或作其他方式處理；
(c) 高等法院命令的執行；及 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)
(d) 司法常務官就該等款項、保證物及財產而具有的權力及職責。

(2) 在不損害前述條文的一般性的原則下，根據本條訂立的規則，可作出規定─

(a)規管存放於法院的款項的存入及提取，以及存放的款項的利息的支付或記入貸方等事宜；
(b) 決定將利息記入存放的款項所屬帳戶的貸方的最低存款額；
(c) 決定存放的款項何時開始及停止衍生利息，以及該筆利息的計算方法；
(d) 決定存放的款項在何種情況下開始及停止衍生利息，以及該筆利息的計算方法；
(e)決定存放的款項的利息及存於司法常務官名下的保證物的派息在何種情況下須作為存放的款項；及
(f)處置存於法院的無人申索的款項(無遺囑遺產的餘款除外)或根據《破產條例》(第6章)第128條設立的破產人產業帳戶內的無人申索的款項。

(3) 就本條而言，“訴訟人”(suitors) 包括仲裁程序中按照法院規則將款項繳存高等法院的任何一方。 (由1982年第43號第3條增補。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	58	(已失效力)	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條
	第VIII部
	一般規定
(已失效力)

條：	59	對法例中提述合議庭及高等法院之處的修訂	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在任何法律中，除文意另有所指外─

(a) 凡提述合議庭之處，須代以上訴法庭；

(b) 凡提述高等法院之處，須代以原訟法庭；及

(c)凡提述合議庭大法官或人員或高等法院法官或人員之處，前者須解釋為上訴法庭法官

或人員，而後者則須解釋為原訟法庭法官或人員。 (由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

條：	60	(已失時效而略去 )	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(已失時效而略去)

條：	61	(已失時效)	25 of 1998 s. 2	01/07/1997

附註：

第 4章 -高等法院條例

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

(已失時效)

附註：具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條
(已失時效)

附註：具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條
		[第46條]
令狀
(1) 傳訊令狀 (2) 傳召出庭令狀 (3) 扣押債務人財產令狀 (4) 管有令狀 (5) 交付令狀 (6) 暫時扣押令狀 (7) 給予援助令狀 (8) 復還令狀 (9) 解交被拘押者並說明其拘押日期及原因令狀 (10)-(11)(由1997年第95號第6條廢除)		(由1987年第52號第43條增補)

High Court Ordinance (Chapter 4), Hong Kong, China

Available Materials