The Judiciary has announced a pilot scheme for the live broadcasting of substantive appellate proceedings in the Court of Final Appeal (CFA), set to begin on April 1, 2025, lasting for two years.
Open justice is essential for maintaining public confidence in the judicial system and upholding the rule of law. Live broadcasting will enhance transparency in court procedures while safeguarding the due administration of justice.
Last year, the Judiciary conducted four trial runs of live broadcasting for selected CFA cases to test technical feasibility and operational details. Following a review, the Judiciary plans to broadcast all substantive appeal cases, excluding:
- Cases requiring protection of children's or mentally disabled adults' interests, privacy, trade secrets, or commercial confidentiality.
- Proceedings related to national security, high-profile public order cases, or politically charged matters.
These exceptions aim to maintain judicial decorum and ensure fair administration of justice. Hearings will remain open to the public unless directed otherwise by the CFA.
The first two hearings will be broadcast live on April 1 and 7, 2025. Members of the public can access the live webcast on the CFA website via desktop or mobile devices. Core written materials will be available before the hearings, and information on the live webcast will be provided closer to the court dates.
Public and media members are prohibited from recording the live broadcast. Digital rights management measures will be implemented to deter unauthorized recording and distribution. After the live broadcast, videos will be available on the CFA website for one month.
Following the anticipated second reading of the Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill in late March, provisions against unauthorized recording and broadcasting will apply to the live broadcasts during the pilot.
The Judiciary will conduct the live broadcasting on its in-house platform, replacing previous outsourcing arrangements to ensure cost-effective use of public resources. After the pilot, the Judiciary will review and consider long-term options for live broadcasting court proceedings.
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