Hong Kong Regulations

THE RULES OF THE HIGH COURT - ORDER 64

SITTINGS, VACATIONS AND OFFICE HOURS

(Past version on 01/07/1997).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

1. Sittings of the Supreme Court (O. 64, r. 1)

(1) The sittings of the Court of Appeal and of the Court of First Instance
shall be three in every year, that is to say- (25 of 1998 s. 2)

   (a)  the Winter sittings which shall begin on 4 January and end on the
        Thursday before Easter Sunday;

   (b)  the Spring sittings which shall begin on the second Monday after
        Easter Sunday and end on 31 July;

   (c)  the Autumn sittings which shall begin on 1 September and end on 23
        December. (L.N. 404 of 1991)

2. Court of Appeal (O. 64, r. 2)

(1) The Court of Appeal shall sit in vacation on such days as the Chief
Justice may, from time to time direct to hear such appeals or applications as
require to be immediately or promptly heard and to hear other appeals and
applications if the Chief Justice determines that sittings are necessary for
that purpose.

(2) Any party to an appeal may at any time apply to the Court of  Appeal for
an order that the appeal be heard in vacation and, if that Court is satisfied
that the appeal requires to be immediately or promptly heard, it may make an
order accordingly and fix a date for the hearing.

(3) The Court of Appeal may hear such other appeals in vacation as that Court
may direct.

(4) The provisions of O. 59, r. 10(9) shall apply to the powers conferred on
the Court of Appeal by this rule.

3. Court of First Instance (O. 64, r. 3)

(1) One or more judges of the Court of First Instance shall sit in vacation on
such days as the Chief Justice may, from time to time direct, to hear such
causes, matters or applications as require to be immediately or promptly heard
and to hear other causes, matters or applications if the Chief Justice
determines that sittings are necessary for that purpose.

(2) Any party to a cause or matter may at any time apply to the  Court for an
order that such cause or matter be heard in vacation and, if the Court is
satisfied that the cause or matter requires to be immediately or promptly
heard, it may make an order accordingly and fix a date for the hearing.

(3) Any judge of the Court of First Instance may hear such other causes or
matters in vacation as the Court may direct.

(25 of 1998 s. 2)

3A. Business in vacation (O. 64, r. 3A)

(HK)(1) Upon application by any party to an action or matter, the  Court may,
if it thinks fit-

   (a)  complete such action or matter in vacation if it is partheard; and

   (b)  deliver judgment in such action or matter in vacation.

7. High Court Offices: days on which open and office hours (O. 64, r. 7)

(1) The offices of the High Court shall be open on every day of the year
except-

   (a)  Saturdays from 1 p.m.,

   (b)  Sundays,

   (c)  Christmas Eve or, if that day is a Sunday, then 23 December from 1
        p.m., (L.N. 403 of 1992)

   (ca) Lunar New Year's Eve from 1 p.m., (L.N. 403 of 1992)

   (e)  general holidays under the General Holidays Ordinance ( Cap  149), (35
        of 1998 s. 5)

   (f)  such other days as the Chief Justice may direct.

(2) The hours during which any office of the High Court shall be open to the
public shall be such as the Chief Justice may from time to time direct.

(25 of 1998 s. 2) (Enacted 1988)