TNAG-1589-FCO40-21741-Future-of-the-judiciary-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-1-of-2-1987 — Page 178

said to take five hours of manual transcribing. The advantages of

C.A.T.

therefore are that it is labour saving and that transcripts can

be produced to order as a trial proceeds. There is a small demand for

the latter service. The answer might be a small C.A.T. force to be

used for long cases with a high probability of appeal or a requirement for frequent transcripts during its course. A "scopist" can transcribe

leaving the reporter in court. Training costs are relatively high and

special pay would be a further cost.

25.

My present feeling is that it would be unwise at this stage to rule any of the options in paragraph 21 out of future development.

There may well be a proper place for each of them. The strategic plan might therefore be as follows :-

26.

(1) equip the courts for sound as soon as possible (giving first priority to High Court civil business and then the District Court);

(2) improve the recruitment and training of

machine shorthand writers and of sound

recording transcribers and see what further

incentives to join and remain in the service

can be provided for both locals and

expatriates;

(3) continue the development of C.A.T. for use in

two or three courts with a view to extended

development if this

seems the right course

after further live testing.

Whilst the policy is being formed the acuteness of the immediate problem might be alleviated by the following :-

(1) A strengthening of the management structure.

The present force of 53 is in practice

managed by one Senior Court Reporter.

There are two others but one is fully

occupied with the C.A.T. project and the

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