High Court building evacuated as firefighters tackle fire

A minor blaze at the High Court building in Admiralty brought eight hearings - including the city's most high-profile corruption case - to a halt yesterday afternoon.

A report of a strong smell of smoke coming from two courtrooms on the 12th floor of the building was made at around 2.45pm. Judges who were in the midst of hearing cases were told to evacuate the building immediately.

But as fire alarms sounded throughout the building, no alarms went off on the fifth floor - where the trial involving Sun Hung Kai Properties co-chairmen Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, and former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan was under way.

Mr Justice Andrew Macrae made an "executive order" to suspend the corruption trial after being alerted by a security guard. The case will resume today.

On the 10th floor, Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes Wai Ling, who was hearing a murder case, immediately asked the jury and everyone in court to leave without making any order. The case resumed when people were allowed to return later.

As firefighters arrived at the building, judges, lawyers, judicial officials and visitors waited on the street outside.