Colonial past to be settled out of court

Judiciary staff are to embark on a $6 million purge of colonial symbols in Hong Kong courtrooms.

Traditional coats of arms are to be taken down, while the Chief Justice's mace which stands beneath his bench in the Court of Appeal will be removed.

Judiciary administration staff have completed a stock-taking operation aimed at locating all colonial images in the courts.

The removal of the historic crests which portray a lion, a unicorn, a crown and a coat of arms, will form a central part of the operation.

Many of the crests, which are usually placed on the wall behind the judge or magistrate, are easy to remove.

But 58 crests are carved into courtroom walls and it will cost $80,000 for each to be removed.