Hong Kong’s chief justice sets up task force to speed up protest cases but hits back at critics who accuse courts of being slow

A task force has been set up to study how Hong Kong’s courts can cope with the increased volume of cases brought about by the ongoing social unrest, the chief justice revealed on Monday, as he hit back at attacks that the system had been slow to act.

It would explore measures such as extending courts’ sitting hours, Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li said, while the judiciary would consult relevant stakeholders, including the city’s two biggest lawyers’ groups, the Bar Association and Law Society.

In a hard-hitting speech at the opening of the new legal year, the outgoing chief justice dismissed accusations that the courts had been tardy, stressing that while everyone was entitled to their opinion, there were many “misconceptions and misunderstandings” about court procedures.

But Ma said many had overlooked the time it took – often weeks, if not longer – for prosecutors to bring charges. The guarantee of a fair trial, which required adequate time for the defence to prepare, was also important, he added.

“A fair trial does not mean that there must be a conviction or an acquittal depending on one’s personal or political viewpoint; the outcome of a criminal trial depends on the evidence that is presented to the court,” Ma said.