Judiciary of Hong Kong

The judiciary in Hong Kong is responsible for the administration of justice in the territory. It hears all prosecutions and civil disputes, including disputes between individuals and the government. It is fundamental to the Hong Kong legal system that members of the judiciary are independent of the executive and legislative branches of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The courts of law in Hong Kong comprise the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court (which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance), the District Courts (which includes the Family Court and the Lands Tribunal), the Magistrates' Courts (which includes the Juvenile Court), the Coroner's Court, the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal, and the Obscene Articles Tribunal. The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal is head of the judiciary and assisted in his administrative duties by the Judiciary Administrator. A bilingual court system in which Chinese, English or both can be used was put in place, in accordance with the requirement of the Basic Law.