An informal deadline for people to lodge appeals with the Privy Council will be decided by the autumn.
The aim is to ensure an orderly transfer of cases so that no one will be deprived of the right of final appeal. The Court of Final Appeal will replace the Privy Council after the handover.
The Government will discuss with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the team-designate of the Special Administrative Region on how to transfer any unfinished business on July 1, 1997, Deputy Director of Administration Paul Tang Kwok-wai told a Legco panel.
He said assurances had been received from the Privy Council that it would give priority to appeals from Hong Kong in the months before the handover.
Mr Tang said appointments to the Court of Final Appeal could not be made until the law setting up the court took effect on July 1 next year.
Article 88 of the Basic Law says the judges will be appointed by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the independent Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.