These Rules let a coroner allow set allowances for certain witnesses attending an inquest, with lower maximum amounts if the witness is absent for 4 hours or less, and any allowed sum must be claimed within 3 months.
Coroners (Witnesses’ Allowances) Rules(Cap. 504 section 54) (Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 1 of 2013)[4 May 1998] L.N. 211 of 1998(Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2013) 1. (Omitted as spent—E.R. 1 of 2013) 2. Interpretation In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires—witness (證人) means a person, other than a public officer, attending an inquest to give evidence, whether or not he gives evidence. 3. Allowances for professional witnesses (1) A coroner may allow in respect of a witness practising as a member of the legal or medical profession or as a dentist or veterinary surgeon for attending to give professional evidence, whether in one or more cases, a professional witness allowance not exceeding $3,290 for each day the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s place of residence or practice to attend for such purpose.(2) If the witness attends on any day to give evidence, whether in one or more cases, and the period during which the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s place of residence or practice to attend for such purpose does not exceed 4 hours, the professional witness allowance for that day must not exceed $1,640.(L.N. 260 of 2008; L.N. 184 of 2012; L.N. 61 of 2015; L.N. 54 of 2017; L.N. 40 of 2019; L.N. 66 of 2021; L.N. 90 of 2023) 4. Allowances for expert witnesses (1) A coroner may allow in respect of an expert witness for attending to give expert evidence, whether in one or more cases, an expert witness allowance not exceeding $3,290 for each day the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s place of residence, business or employment to attend for such purpose.(2) If the witness attends on any day to give evidence, whether in one or more cases, and the period during which the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s place of residence, business or employment to attend for such purpose does not exceed 4 hours, the expert witness allowance for that day must not exceed $1,640.(L.N. 260 of 2008; L.N. 184 of 2012; L.N. 61 of 2015; L.N. 54 of 2017; L.N. 40 of 2019; L.N. 66 of 2021; L.N. 90 of 2023) 5. Allowances for loss of remuneration or expenses incurred (1) A coroner may allow in respect of a witness who attends to give evidence (other than professional or expert evidence), whether in one or more cases, and thereby loses remuneration or necessarily incurs expense (other than expense on account of lodging or subsistence) to which the witness would not otherwise have been subject, a loss allowance not exceeding $655 for each day of attendance, in respect of that loss or expense.(2) If the period during which the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s place of residence, business or employment to attend to give evidence does not exceed 4 hours on any day of attendance, the witness’s loss allowance for that day must not exceed $325.(L.N. 260 of 2008; L.N. 184 of 2012; L.N. 61 of 2015; L.N. 54 of 2017; L.N. 40 of 2019; L.N. 66 of 2021; L.N. 90 of 2023) 6. Allowance to be claimed within 3 months Any sum allowed under these Rules shall cease to be payable unless claimed within 3 months from the date on which it was allowed.