Hong Kong Bar Association

Circular No. 105/03

To : Members of the Bar Association

From : Andrew Mak - Hon. Secretary

Date : 24 November 2003

RESOLUTION UNDER THE DISTRICT COURT ORDINANCE (CAP. 336)
JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS OF THE DISTRICT COURT

The Judiciary Administrator has written to inform members that, at its sitting on 29 October, the Legislative Council passed a resolution pursuant to section 73A of the District Court Ordinance ("DCO") (Cap. 336) to raise the financial limits of the civil jurisdiction of the District Court from $600,000 to $1 million in respect of the following matters -

(a) General jurisdiction in actions of contract, quasi-contract and tort (section 32(1) and (3) of the DCO);
(b) Money recoverable by enactment (section 33(1)(b) of DCO);
(c) Equity jurisdiction (section 37(2)(i), (ii) and (iv) of DCO); and
(d) Jurisdiction to grant injunctions and to make declarations (section 52(1)(a) and (d) of DCO).

The Resolution (copy at Annex) was published in the Gazette on 31 October 2003. The new jurisdictional limits of the District Court will take effect on 1 December 2003.

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Annex

DISTRICT COURT ORDINANCE

RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Resolution made and passed by the Legislative Council under section 73A of the District Court Ordinance (Cap. 336) on 29 October 2003.

RESOLVED that, with effect from 1 December 2003, the District Court Ordinance (Cap. 336) be amended in the provisions specified below by repealing "$600,000" wherever it appears and substituting "$1,000,000" -

(a) section 32(1) and (3);
(b) section 33(1)(b);
(c) section 37(2)(i), (ii) and (iv); and
(d) section 52(1)(a) and (d).

Clerk to the Legislative Council
29 October 2003

Explanatory Note

This Resolution raises the upper monetary limits of the civil jurisdiction of the District Court in various matters with effect from 1 December 2003.