My Take | Live-streaming of court cases is a welcome move long overdue
- Allowing cameras in the court can be transformative and the judiciary should now press ahead so that justice is – literally – seen to be done
The making of legal history can take many forms, often the dramatic delivery of a landmark court judgment that reshapes society.
Hong Kong’s judiciary broke new ground in a different way this month, with little fanfare. The development can, however, be transformative. Two cases were streamed live, marking a radical departure from the decades-old restriction on cameras in court. The move is long overdue.
The live broadcasts, later briefly available for playback, were screened on the Court of Final Appeal’s website. The initiative is intended to boost public confidence in the justice system by providing greater access and understanding.
Viewers hoping to witness proceedings in a high-profile national security case or gruesome murder trial would have been disappointed.
The cases were both rather dry civil appeals before the top court involving technical legal arguments. But this is just the beginning. It is to be hoped further broadcasts will quickly follow.
Hong Kong court cases are mostly open to the public. Few people have the time or desire to attend. Live-streaming allows viewers to sit in via their laptop or mobile phone. The two cases combined drew almost 10,000 views, with a peak of 5,000 watching at one time. Sticking with the proceedings, which both lasted a full day, would have required fortitude and persistence.