1. Basic Legal Knowledge

    1. The rule of law
    2. Sources of law in Hong Kong
    3. Criminal proceedings vs civil proceedings
    4. Solicitors vs Barristers
    5. Brief introduction on the Department of Justice
    6. Different courts in Hong Kong

  2. Procedures during criminal hearings

    1. Normal court procedure in a criminal case
    2. Summary conviction and conviction on indictment
    3. First hearing
    4. Plea of guilty
    5. Mitigation and sentence
    6. Effects on sentencing upon pleading guilty
    7. Plea of not guilty
    8. Trial
    9. Closing submissions and verdict
    10. Trial by jury
    11. Appeal

  3. Juvenile Court

    1. Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court
    2. Protection to young offenders
    3. Procedure at the juvenile court
    4. Restrictions on punishment of young offenders
    5. Sentencing principles
    6. Sentencing

  4. Arresting procedure, my rights and obligations

    1. Introduction
    2. Stopping and questioning by the police in a public place
    3. The right to silence
    4. Stopping and searching by the police in a public place
    5. Consequences on refusing to cooperate with the police
    6. Arresting a person
    7. Rights after arrest
    8. Detention of arrested persons
    9. Taking statements
    10. Bail of arrested persons
    11. Separation of young persons in police stations and in courts
    12. Lodging complaints against the police

  5. Free or subsidized legal assistance

    1. Introduction to some of the legal assistance available in Hong Kong
    2. Legal Aid Scheme for criminal cases
    3. Duty Lawyer Scheme
    4. The Bar Free Legal Service Scheme
    5. Free Legal Advice Scheme
    6. Exclusions
    7. Tel-Law Scheme

  6. Protection for victims

    1. Rights of victims
    2. Child Witnesses
    3. Vulnerable witnesses
    4. Video recorded evidence
    5. Evidence by live television link
    6. Depositions

  7. Punishment and sentencing options

    1. Introduction
    2. Imprisonment
    3. Suspended sentence
    4. Community Service Order
    5. Probation Order
    6. Detention Centre Order
    7. Training Centre Order
    8. Rehabilitation Centre Order
    9. Reformatory School
    10. Remand Home
    11. Hospital Order
    12. Drug Addiction Treatment Centre Order
    13. Fine
    14. Compensation Order
    15. Restitution Order
    16. Forfeiture
    17. Disqualification from driving
    18. Binding over
    19. Discharge (with or without conditions)
    20. Orders against parents or guardians
    21. Superintendent caution
    22. Deletion of criminal record

  8. Criminal records and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance

    1. Criminal records
    2. Fixed penalty tickets
    3. Bind Overs
    4. Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme
    5. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance
    6. The RHO and suspended sentences
    7. The RHO and Orders for Detention
    8. The RHO and Community Service Orders
    9. The RHO and Probation Order
    10. The RHO and Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme
    11. Implications of Spent Convictions
    12. Disclosure of spent convictions in court proceedings
    13. Situations Where Spent Convictions Must be Disclosed
    14. Penalties for wrongful disclosure of spent convictions
    15. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance applies only to Hong Kong
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Duty Lawyer Scheme

Duty Lawyer Scheme is run by the Duty Lawyer Service (http://www.dutylawyer.org.hk/). The Duty Lawyer Scheme mainly provides legal representation in criminal cases to eligible defendants appearing in Magistrates Courts and Juvenile Courts. The legal representation is provided by qualified solicitors and barristers in private practice.

The Duty Lawyer Scheme also provides legal representation to:

  1. eligible persons who are at risk of criminal prosecution as a result of giving incriminating evidence in Coroners Inquest;
  2. hawkers appealing to the Municipal Services Appeals Board (http://www.admwing.gov.hk/eng/links/msab.htm)against the decision of not issuing hawker licence to them; and
  3. eligible persons facing extradition proceedings.

The Scheme does not offer representation for:

  • committal proceedings
  • hawking offences;
  • traffic summonses; and
  • other "regulatory offences" such as departmental summonses issued by the following departments of the HKSAR Government:
    • Environmental Protection Department;
    • Inland Revenue Department;
    • Fire Services Department.

For more details about the Duty Lawyer Scheme, please visit the Duty Lawyer Service's webpage at http://www.dutylawyer.org.hk/eng/duty/duty.asp or telephone 2526 5969.

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