Introduction
A third guidance note on the use of remote hearings for civil proceedings took effect on 2 January 2021. The guidance note (representing Phase 3) provides for wider use of videoconferencing facilities and telephone hearings with respect to all levels of civil courts in Hong Kong (including the Competition, Labour and Small Claims Tribunals). In particular, Phase 3 is more comprehensive and provides more options for connecting with the courts' videoconferencing facilities – for example, in addition to the use of the courts' hardware or software videoconferencing options (under Phases 1 and 2), Phase 3 provides for a lower cost 'browser-based' videoconferencing option.
Phase 1 and 2 guidance notes