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At present, the proceedings in the magistrates courts and some tribunals may be conducted in either English or Chinese. However, the Official Languages Ordinance specifies that proceedings in the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the District Court and certain tribunals may be conducted only in English.
"The proposed Bill will enable the judge presiding over a court hearing to use either English or Chinese," a Government spokesman said.
"However, the judge's choice of the language will not dictate what language a party, a legal representative or a witness is to use.
"Like the judge, lawyers representing the parties will be allowed to use either English or Chinese. A party to the hearing will also be allowed to issue a writ or file a defence or notice of appeal in either language as well.
"Furthermore, a party or a witness may continue to use either English or Chinese, or even another language, when attending a court hearing," he said.
The wider use of Chinese in judicial proceedings will require additional facilities and expertise.
Interpretation and translation services will be provided as required, and the written transcription will be prepared in either English or Chinese as the court thinks fit.
The Executive Council has endorsed an eight-phase implementation strategy recommended by the Chief Justice's Steering Committee on Use of Chinese in Courts.
The spokesman said the pace of the phased implementation would be decided by the Chief Justice, who would take into account the experience gained from a series of trial schemes due to start in August.
"The aim is to put in place a framework which allows the use of Chinese, along with English, in all judicial proceedings in Hong Kong before July 1, 1997." the spokesman said.
"This reform will give an option to those people who feel that justice is best served by the use of Chinese, rather than English, in their cases. This is in line with the Government's bilingual policy," he added.
End/Friday, May 12, 1995