Hong Kong judiciary moves a step closer to becoming paperless with bill on use of digital documents expected in legislature within weeks
- Long-awaited Court Proceedings (Electronic Technology) Bill gazetted, seven years after the judiciary conducted the first study on the issue in 2012
- Move will allow the city to draw level with regional competitor Singapore
Hong Kong’s judiciary is a step closer to becoming paperless as a bill which permits the use of digital documents and signatures in court is expected to be introduced in the legislature next month.
The long-awaited Court Proceedings (Electronic Technology) Bill was gazetted on Friday, seven years after the judiciary conducted the first study on the issue in 2012.
The move will allow the city to draw level with regional competitor Singapore, where courts have allowed electronic filing since 2000.
At present, Hong Kong courts require litigants and lawyers to submit judicial applications and case materials in the form of printed copies – a practice which litigation professionals are accustomed to.
But the bill would allow litigants and legal professionals to send and receive court filings, or otherwise communicate with the court via electronic means.