Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Topic

Trial language

Legal area

Court

8 Apr 2024

HUI PO CHI 對 NEW LANTAO BUS COMPANY (1973) LTD

Citation

[2024] HKDC 552
Court

District Court
Case number

DCPI695/2019

The court ruled that parties are not required to translate original English hearing documents into Chinese because the presiding judge and defendant's counsel are bilingual and mandatory translation would not be cost-effective; instead the court made proportionate case management directions requiring the defendant to serve the trial bundle and related material earlier to ensure the unrepresented Cantonese-speaking plaintiff has sufficient time to obtain assistance, fixed the trial dates and specified trial language and use of witness statements.
29 May 2015

HKSAR v. LEE SIU KEUNG EDMOND

Citation

HKSAR v. LEE SIU KEUNG EDMOND
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCMA572/2014

The magistrate did not err: the choice of Chinese for trial was a proper exercise of discretion; typographical/name/address defects were immaterial and the summons was validly amended and served; filing a notice under s7D is discretionary and not a prerequisite; interruptions did not prejudice the appellant; 'ride' includes riding a bicycle and 'foot-path' includes pavements; the appellant's claimed excuse of feeling unwell was rejected as not lawful; accordingly the conviction and fine were upheld.