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Technology Court in High Court of Hong Kong

Source: Judiciary, HKSAR Government

For the Benefit of the Legal Profession and Court Users

With a view to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of court support services, the Judiciary is pleased to introduce the first Technology Court in Hong Kong.

The Technology Court is a direct response to the changing needs of court services today. Court users and the legal profession will be able to take advantage of the new courtroom technologies now in place to facilitate the conduct of proceedings.

Fully Integrated Courtroom Technologies

The Technology Court is equipped with user-friendly features and facilities, including video conferencing, multimedia presentation of evidence, electronic documentation and exhibits handling, and enhanced interpretation services-all integrated into a centrally controlled network. Moreover, a customised projection system has also been installed at the court lobby so that proceedings may be broadcast to interested parties who cannot be accommodated in the trial court.

Video Conferencing

With the aid of video conferencing facilities, not all witnesses are required to be in court to give evidence. The facilities provide court users with a convenient and less expensive option for taking evidence from overseas witnesses. Parties to the proceedings can save the time and expense of travelling overseas.

Multimedia Presentation of Evidence

The Technology Court enables the presentation of evidence by way of a multimedia platform, incorporating audio, video, and digital signals with graphics, text, film, and computer animation. The components of the multimedia platform include an electronic whiteboard, a visualiser, projectors with motorised projection screens, personal computers with LCD monitors, audio and video players and recorders for a variety of formats (including CD, VCD, DVD, MD and MP3), and a fully integrated sound system.

Electronic Whiteboard: On-screen Annotation

An electronic whiteboard or a touch-screen LCD monitor used together with markup software will allow parties to annotate electronically on documents displayed on screens in the courtroom. Notes or other explanatory markings will then be captured, stored or printed for circulation or court records.

Visualiser: Image Capture and Display

A visualiser is a document camera capable of capturing and displaying images of hardcopy documents, physical objects, or negatives. Such images can be instantaneously broadcast on in-court display screens or saved in the computer for further annotation using the electronic whiteboard or touch-screen markup facilities

Electronic Documentation and Exhibits Handling

All data is safely stored in a central data bank that handles common multimedia and file formats and is fully indexed for instantaneous retrieval of information. Data protection is strictly observed and access to data is restricted to the parties concerned.

Enhanced Interpretation Services

The system can cater for multilingual or multi-dialect consecutive interpretation through dedicated channels, enabling a defendant to select his preferred language.

Other Features

The Technology Court provides Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Services and allows the examination of vulnerable witnesses via Closed Circuit Television. It is also wired to facilitate real-time court reporting and transcription services.Application for the Use of Facilities.

A formal application has to be made before the level of court where the case is heard or tried. The court may from time to time prescribe and revise the charges levied for the facilities.

Electronic Time Stamping

Hongkong Post is partnering with The Chinese University of Hong Kong on providing e-timestamping service for the Internet and e-commerce community. Electronic Time-Stamping (e-TS) is a secure online notary mechanism, which certifies that a set of data has existed and has not been altered since a specific point in time. It serves as a trusted third party witnessing the existence and particulars of electronic data.

Regardless of the format and the content, any electronic data can be timestamped. e-TS can be applied to online business transactions, e-mails, secure messaging, intellectual property protection and other time-sensitive services.

A FREE trial to create your own timestamping is available online now. You can visit in Hongkong Post website www.hongkongpost.gov.hk or click www.e-timestamping.com to have a free trial and get more details.

New Usage of e-Cert : Online securities trading at KGI

KGI, one of the largest equity and futures brokerages in Hong Kong, has adopted e-Cert in its online securities services. You can now enjoy a more secure online trading environment by using e-Cert to place orders, amend or cancel buy/sell order instructions, enquire order status, etc. With e-Cert, your online identity cannot be easily faked by others. In addition, confidential data such as password and financial information are well protected during online securities transactions.

It is easy to get started. Once you have successfully applied a KGI online securities trading account, you can register to use e-Cert to login at www.kgieworld.com. Just associate your HKID number to KGI online securities trading account to finish the registration.

By trading with e-Cert at KGI, you can enjoy the following privileged offers:

Free real time snapshot market data - EasyQuotes (Hong Kong) (100 quotes/month)

KGI's online futures clients can enjoy FREE real time quotes & Intelligent Market Strategies services.

Hongkong Post's new root certificateadmitted to Microsoft Root Certificate Program

Hongkong Post's new root certificate ("Hongkong Post Root CA 1") was admitted to the Microsoft Root Certificate Program

Starting from April 2004, Hongkong Post's new root certificate ("Hongkong Post Root CA 1") was admitted to the Microsoft Root Certificate Program, in addition to the old root certificate ("Hongkong Post Root CA") which had already been admitted in July 2003. The program aims at protecting Microsoft customers from security issues related to the use of public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates. This means that Internet Explorer and Outlook Express users of Windows XP and Windows 2003 will now trust certificates issued by Hongkong Post under the two root certificates.

Users on platforms before Windows XP can also pick up and install the two Hongkong Post root certificates to their operating systems when they perform the Windows Update at URL, http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Please note that Root Certificate Update is not a critical update and users need to explicitly click-open the optional Windows 98/ME/NT/2000 Update list to include the Root Certificate Update.

The admission of Hongkong Post to the Microsoft Root Certificate Program is a solid proof of the trustworthiness of the Hongkong Post CA System and e-Cert.

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Curbing forgery of Hong Kong smart identity cards

It was reported that in a joint operation in early 2004, the police forces in Macao and Zhuhai uncovered a cross-boundary criminal syndicate specialized in forging documents, and among the articles seized were some high-quality forged Hong Kong smart identity cards.

The Hong Kong Government has been very concerned about and have attached great importance to cross-boundary criminal activities of forgery syndicates. Well-established communication mechanism is in place for the law enforcement agencies to maintain close liaison and exchange information with the relevant Mainland, Macao and overseas authorities as well as representatives of consulates in Hong Kong on issues of mutual concern, including cross-boundary criminal activities of forgery syndicates. As for the case concerned, original intelligence indicated that the target of operation would not involve any forged Hong Kong identity documents and, therefore, the law enforcement agencies were not invited to participate in the operation. However, upon learning about the case, the Immigration Department (ImmD) had liaised with the relevant Mainland and Macao enforcement agencies and obtained relevant information for appropriate follow-up actions.

As soon as forged Hong Kong smart identity cards were uncovered early 2004, ImmD has, in collaboration with the relevant Mainland enforcement agencies, been investigating the cases actively. The Government does not preclude that criminal syndicates are involved but further details cannot be disclosed while investigations are underway. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the alleged criminal syndicate was involved in cases of forged smart identity cards found in Hong Kong in the past.

Forged Hong Kong smart identity cards seized by the law enforcement agencies in early 2004 were of poor quality and defects could be spotted easily. As for the forged identity cards seized later, they are of better quality. Nevertheless, the forgers are unable to grasp the anti-forgery features which are unique to the smart identity cards, such as :

optical variable ink,

multiple laser image,

kineprint that enables images to change colours when viewed at different angles, and

high-quality laser engraved photograph on polycarbonate card body.

According to the Government, it is not difficult for the general public to differentiate between a genuine card and a fake one under careful scrutiny. To prevent the public and employers from being deceived, ImmD has strengthened publicity in this respect. Apart from producing posters and pamphlets for public reference, it has held talks for banks, property management companies, construction companies and law enforcement agencies. A hotline (2824 1551) has also been set up to facilitate enquires by the public and employers.