REVIEW OF FAMILY PROCEDURE RULES

Interim Report and Consultative Paper

Chief Justice’s Working Party

on Family Procedure Rules

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region The People’s Republic of China

Acknowledgements

In July 2013, five judicial members of the Working Party on Family Procedure Rules visited London. They were warmly received by many judges at different levels of courts in England and Wales, including The Right Honourable Baroness Hale of Richmond, Deputy President of The Supreme Court, The Right Honourable Lord Justice Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court and Chairman of the Family Procedure Rule Committee, The Right Honourable Lord Justice Thorpe, Justice of Appeal and Head of International Family Justice, The Right Honourable Lord Justice Ryder, Justice of Appeal, The Right Honourable Lady Justice Black, Justice of Appeal, The Right Honourable Lord Justice McFarlane, Justice of Appeal, The Honourable Mr Justice Moylan, High Court Judge, His Honour Judge Waller, Circuit Judge and Judge Darbyshire, District Judge. The English Judges all have very rich and extensive experience in family . They generously shared their views and insights on the English system and the Family Procedure Rules 2010, which sets the latest development trend in family procedures within the world. The Working Party wishes to thank them most sincerely for their sharing which has provided the Working Party with very useful and practical guidance in the preparation of this Interim Report and Consultative Paper.

Your Views are Crucial Please Take the Time to Respond

THE CONSULTATION PERIOD ENDS ON 16 June 2014

¾ This Interim Report and Consultative Paper affects everyone who has a stake in there being an effective and efficient family justice system.

¾ Whether you are someone involved in family and matrimonial proceedings – or legal professionals or other stakeholders – your response is crucial. ¾ The review of family procedure rules can only succeed with input and feedback from parties concerned. ¾ Please read the Interim Report and Consultative Paper and let us have your comments on the Proposals put forward for consultation on or before 16 June 2014.

¾ If you do not wish to comment on all the Proposals, you may just address those aspects of particular interest to you. ¾ The Interim Report and Consultative Paper is also available at the Judiciary’s website at http://www.judiciary.gov.hk/ en/other_info/family_review.htm (English version) and http:// www.judiciary.gov.hk/tc/other_info/family_review.htm (Chinese version). You are also invited to browse the above website for information on the family procedure rules review exercise.

PLEASE SEND YOUR RESPONSES TO

Mail : Secretary, Chief Justice’s Working Party on Family Procedure Rules LG2, High Court 38 Queensway Hong Kong

Fax : (852) 2501 4636

Email : [email protected]

¾ It is voluntary for any respondent to supply his or her personal data upon providing comments on this Interim Report and Consultative Paper. Any personal data provided with a response will only be used for the purpose of this consultation exercise. ¾ Unless otherwise specified, all responses will be treated as public information and may be published in future, in whole or in part, in any form without seeking permission or providing acknowledgement of the respondent. The Judiciary may, either in discussion with others, whether privately or publicly, or in any subsequent report, refer to and attribute comments in response to this paper. ¾ The Judiciary will respect the wish of respondents to remain anonymous and/or keep the views confidential in part or in whole. If the respondents do not request anonymity or confidentiality in their responses, the Judiciary will assume that the responses can be published in their