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Other measures which the Judiciary can take towards ameliorating the position of
unrepresented litigants touch upon initiatives (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) mentioned
above.
Indeed, steps have already been taken to implement some of these
initiatives.
(a)
At the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year in 2002, the Chief Justice
announced the Judiciary's intention to establish a resource centre for
unrepresented litigants in civil proceedings in the High Court and District Court.
(b)
A Steering Committee, chaired by Madam Justice Chu, was established for this
purpose in February 2002, and held some seven meetings. A survey of court
users was conducted in July and August 2002 regarding the services, facilities
and assistance to be provided at the resource centre.
(c)
Thereafter, funding of $5.7 million was secured in April 2003 and premises in
the High Court to house the resource centre were identified. Physical
preparations commenced in May 2003. These were completed and the
Resource Centre began its operations on 22 December 2003, manned by
Judiciary staff who have undergone appropriate training.
(d)
The Resource Centre has its own website and has, at its premises in the High
Court Building, enquiries counters, video facilities, computers, a writing area,
self-service photocopying machines, services for administering oaths and
statutory declarations, brochures and videos on civil proceedings in the High
Court and District Court and sample court forms for users' reference. Further
details are obtainable at https://rcul.judiciary.hk/rc/cover.htm.
(e)
The Steering Committee surveyed existing pro bono legal services (including
those mentioned above) and held meetings with representatives of the Bar
Association, the Law Society, the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong
Kong and the Law School of the City University of Hong Kong to explore
possible links between the Resource Centre and possible further pro bono legal
services under the auspices of those organizations.
Notes
Initiative (c) for a special court list for unrepresented litigants has been rejected: Section 14, above.
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