Dear Judiciary Administration,

Further to the enactment of the Courts (Remote Hearing) Ordinance (Cap. 654; hereafter "the Ordinance") on 28 March 2025, I would be grateful if you could provide general statistics and policy on its implementation on the following, pursuant to 1.13 of the Code on Access to Information. Wordings in this request are consistent with s.2 of the Ordinance.

Question 1
Noting the general principle that the Judiciary does not adopt remote hearings for criminal trials (as set out under Schedule 1), except those parts in which evidence is given by a witness (other than a vulnerable witness) as directed under a remote hearing order, please provide statistics concerning the making of remote hearing orders across all levels of courts in criminal proceedings in respect of s.6 and other relevant provisions in the Ordinance:

(a) Number of applications from parties to proceedings received, approved, and rejected by Courts, as disaggregated by quarters of calendar year and level of court;
(b) Within (a), number of applications received, approved, and rejected, as disaggregated by the type of criminal charge (Violent Crimes, Sexual Offences, Offences of Dishonesty and Property, Financial and Commericial Crimes, Road Traffic and Driving Offences, Statutory and Regulatory Offences, and/or other categories as appropriate);
(c) Within (a), number of applications rejected, as disaggregated by reasons for refusal (by any category as appropriate);
(d) Within (a), number of applications involving vulnerable witnesses;
(e) Number of orders made by the Courts on their own motion, as disaggregated by quarters of calendar year and level of court;
(f) Within (e), number of orders made, as disaggregated by the type of criminal charge (Violent Crimes, Sexual Offences, Offences of Dishonesty and Property, Financial and Commericial Crimes, Road Traffic and Driving Offences, Statutory and Regulatory Offences;
(c) Within (e), number of orders made involving vulnerable witnesses.

Question 2
The implementation of the Ordinance involves the Judges and Judicial Officers (JJOs), Judiciary Administration (JA), Department of Justice (DoJ), parties to proceedings, and legal representatives. Hence, please provide a copy of/information on:

(a) relevant Practice Directions issued;
(b) relevant policy, guidance and circulars issued for JJOs, DoJ Prosecutions Division, Legal Aid Department (LAD), Official Solicitor's Office (OSO), Duty Lawyer Service (DLS), and/or legal professional bodies (Law Society and Bar Association);
(c) relevant training arranged by JA for JJOs;
(d) relevant training arranged by DoJ for the Prosecutions Division;
(e) relevant training arranged by LAD, OSO, DLS and/or legal professional bodies for legal practitioners.

Thank you for attending this request crucial to public understanding of the administration of justice and procedural fairness under the Ordinance. You have my consent under paragraph 1.15 of the Code on Access to Information to transfer parts of this request to the Administration Wing, DoJ, LAD, and other government departments as appropriate for their responses.

Yours faithfully,
Preston Cheung