Attempts to slash legal fees and bring a consumer culture to the court system will be the aims of a new think-tank announced by the Chief Justice yesterday.
Mr Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang, speaking at the opening of the new legal year, said the high cost of going to court was a matter of serious concern.
'The public are ultimately the users of the courts,' he said.
'As far as the consumer is concerned, it makes sense that legal costs should be proportionate to the amount at stake and that the consumer should have some idea beforehand of the amount of legal costs.' It is the second time that the SAR's top judge has used the traditional ceremony to highlight his worries about the cost of court cases.
'I believe that it is now an appropriate time for us to conduct a review of the civil rules and procedures of the High Court and to consider changes with a view to ensuring and improving access to justice at reasonable cost and speed,' Mr Justice Li said.
A working party headed by the High Court Chief Judge, Patrick Chan Siu-oi, is to be established.
Imposing limits on fees to be charged in particular cases would be one of the moves considered.
