Hong Kong courts to live stream some proceedings to boost transparency, confidence in justice system
- Live streaming of cases will begin early next year, a move a top judge calls a ‘natural way forward’
- ‘The judiciary is mindful that not all proceedings are suitable for live broadcasting,’ Legislative Council panel says
Hong Kong courts will start to live stream some proceedings early next year in a bid to boost public confidence in the city’s justice system.
The city’s judiciary told a Legislative Council panel on Tuesday that courts were planning to broadcast the cases deemed appropriate to the public.
“The judiciary is mindful that not all proceedings are suitable for live broadcasting,” the panel paper said. “The judiciary is examining the guiding principles as well as the implementation practicalities of live broadcasting of court proceedings.”
The plan was first announced by Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung earlier during the opening of the legal year, with the top judge calling the move a “natural way forward”.
He added it would increase transparency and bolster confidence in the legal system.
The step will also bring Hong Kong in line with law jurisdictions in Britain, Canada, Australia, and the United States, all of which broadcast proceedings at their top courts.
The US Supreme Court only allows audio recordings of arguments during hearings as it upholds a ban on cameras in the courtroom. The High Court of Australia, meanwhile, provides audio and video recordings a day after it has finished sitting.