Hong Kong Bar Association

Circular No. 047/04

To : Members of the Bar Association

From : Andrew Mak - Hon. Secretary

Date : 24 May 2004

INTEREST ON JUDGMENT DEBT

The Chief Justice has ordered that the rate of interest on judgment debts in the High Court and District Court shall remain at 8% per annum.

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NEW PUBLIC SERVICE FROM THE JUDICIARY

The Judiciary Administrator is pleased to inform members that from 14 May 2004, the Judiciary will provide the following services:-

1. Labour Tribunal Award Payment Enquiry Service
This new public service will become available via our e-services portal on the Judiciary website (http://www.judiciary.gov.hk). It will allow parties concerned to make on-line enquiry about the award payment status of their individual claims.

2. e-Fax Communication
To enhance the efficiency of communication and to shorten the time for service of correspondence and notices with the parties concerned, the Judiciary has implemented a pilot scheme to issue and send notices of hearing, memos and letters via the respective case management systems through e-fax. This e-means communication is an e-option service subject to the applicability of the e-fax document and the availability of e-communication means of the parties involved. The e-fax system has been implemented at the High Court and the District Court with limited application to a number of selected documents. The service will be extended to other courts/tribunals and shall cover more document types in due course of time.

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WHOLE ENACTMENT DOWNLOAD FROM BLIS

The Law Drafting Division of the Department of Justice has written to inform members that they have upgraded the Bilingual Laws Information System so that users can now download all or selected sections of an ordinance in one go. A brief guide is enclosed for your easy reference.

DOJ would also like to inform members that they have arranged with the Department of Information Service to supply, in addition to the usual subscription arrangements, a whole set of reprint of the Loose-leaf Edition of the Laws of Hong Kong. The new set now contains only the most up-to-date version of that Edition, and is available at an estimated price of slightly less than $40,000, depending on the number of orders and the actual pages to be printed. The binders cost about $300 each.

Encl.

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CHAMBERS ACCOMMODATION

The following advertisement has been received:

"Well appointed chambers opposite the High Court with a good balance of criminal and civil practitioners has vacancies for one establish practitioner and two new or recently qualified barristers for which special financial arrangements will be made. Good library. No deposit or entrance fee required. Also vacancies for door tenants.

Contact Michelle at 2521 3517."