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The
Court of Final Appeal
is the highest appellate court in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region. It has jurisdiction in respect
of matters conferred on it by the Hong Kong Court
of Final Appeal Ordinance, Cap. 484 and by any
other law. It hears appeals on civil and criminal
matters from the High Court (the Court of Appeal and
the Court of First Instance).
The Court of Appeal hears
appeals on all civil and criminal matters from
the Court of First Instance and the District
Court. It also hears appeals from Lands Tribunal
and various Tribunals and Statutory Bodies.
The Court of First Instance
has unlimited jurisdiction in both civil and
criminal matters. It also hears appeals
from
Magistrates' Courts, the Small Claims Tribunal,
the Obscene Articles Tribunal, the Labour
Tribunal
and the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication
Board. For criminal trials, judges of the
Court
of First Instance sit with a jury of seven
(nine on the special direction of the judge).
The District Court hears
civil disputes of a value over $50,000 but
not more than $1 million. Its criminal jurisdiction
is limited to 7 years' imprisonment.
The Family Court deals mainly
with divorce cases and related matters such
as maintenance and the welfare of children.
There are seven Magistrates'
Courts. They exercise criminal jurisdiction
over a wide range of indictable and summary offences
meriting up to 2 years' imprisonment and a fine of
$100,000. However, a growing number of ordinances
give magistrates the power to impose sentences of
up to 3 years' imprisonment and substantially larger
fines (for some offences up to $5 million).
The Lands Tribunal
deals with cases arising from tenancy disputes and
matters in relation to building management. The Tribunal
also hears applications for the determination of compensations
caused by land resumption, appeal against the assessment
of rateable value / government rent or market value
of property under the Housing
Ordinance.
The Labour Tribunal
deals with labour disputes. There is no upper limit
on the amount of claim, but the Tribunal only hears
cases which the amount of claim exceeds $8,000 for
at least one of the claimants in a claim or which
the number of claimants in the claim exceeds 10. Hearings
are informal and no legal representation is allowed.
The Small Claims Tribunal
hears civil claims within its jurisdiction of up to
$50,000. Hearings are informal and no representation
by lawyers is allowed.
The Obscene Articles Tribunal
determines and classifies whether or not an
article or other matter publicly displayed is
obscene or indecent.
The Coroner's Court
conducts investigations and if necessary holds inquests into the deaths.
The Juvenile Court hears
charges against children and young persons under
the age of 16, except in cases of homicide.
It also has the jurisdiction to make care and
protection orders in respect of young persons
under the age of 18. It sits in the Eastern,
Kowloon City, Tsuen Wan, Fanling and Tuen Mun
Magistrates' Courts.
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