VETERAN judges and magistrates have returned to the classroom for computer training in the first step towards a multi-million programme to computerise the Judiciary.
Chief Justice Sir Ti Liang Yang announced last month that the Judiciary would be overhauled and computerisation stepped up to cut the backlog of court cases.
Individual officers expressed concern yesterday that judges and magistrates might not learn to type fast enough or be able to juggle judging and typing skills in court, but a Judiciary spokesman said individual officers could choose whether to use computers in courts.
He said the training course was aimed at increasing judicial officers' awareness of information technology, and as a ''prelude to wider application of computerisation and information technology in the Judiciary in the future''.
''The phased implementation of an information systems strategy will come hopefully next year, subject to voting funds by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council,'' he said.
Phase one of the proposed plan is expected to cost $31 million to implement and $4.7 million per year to maintain.
