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Top court building 'inadequate'

The Court of Final Appeal building is not up to its job and the highest chamber should take over the Legislative Council building, Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang said yesterday.

He complained in his speech to mark the opening of the legal year that the top court's building in Battery Path, Central, was inadequate for its purpose.

'In particular, the court room - for all its charm - is manifestly inadequate in various aspects. For the judges, for counsel and solicitors, for the parties, for the media and for the public,' the Chief Justice said.

He said he had previously written to the administration stating his 'firm request' that the Judiciary be given the existing Legislative Council building for the top court's relocation when Legco moves to a new home.

At a question and answer session later, Mr Li said of the Court of Final Appeal building: 'It really does get extraordinarily crowded . . . we can still manage to operate in it but it's not very comfortable. The Government has said it has several factors to consider before it can make a decision.'

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