Hong Kong will build a “mega courtroom” for cases involving a large number of defendants as part of efforts to alleviate a shortage of space, leader Carrie Lam announced during the last policy address of her current term on Wednesday.
Work on the mega-courtroom and additional supporting facilities at the District Court building in Wanchai Tower will begin in the first half of next year.
The new facilities aim to ease the city’s courtroom shortage ahead of a new District Court building set to be constructed at the end of 2027.
The formerly de-commissioned Tsuen Wan Law Courts Building will be reopened.
Police have arrested some 10,200 people since the start in June 2019 of major protests against an extradition bill proposed by Lam.
In the 15 months since a Beijing-drafted security law was enacted, 154 people have been arrested under it, whilst 96 of them have been charged. Among the total are 47 democrats charged in February with “conspiracy to commit subversion” over an informal election poll in July 2020.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
