This Dec 2, 2021 photo shows the Court of Final Appeal Building in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is enhancing legal advice support on civil procedures for litigants who have no lawyers, the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office said Monday. 

The Administration Wing of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office said in a statement that, starting Sept 4, the Legal Advice Scheme for Unrepresented Litigants on Civil Procedures will do away with the existing income eligibility limit of not exceeding a monthly income of HK$50,000 ($6,374), or an annual income of HK$600,000. 

Unrepresented litigants can seek advice on civil procedural matters in the Lands Tribunal, Family Court, District Court, the Court of First Instance or Court of Appeal of the High Court, or the Court of Final Appeal

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“Unrepresented litigants who have not engaged lawyers nor been granted legal aid can apply for the scheme to seek free legal advice, without the need to provide information on their income,” the statement reads.

They can seek advice on civil procedural matters in the Lands Tribunal, Family Court, District Court, the Court of First Instance or Court of Appeal of the High Court, or the Court of Final Appeal.

 Also starting Sept 4, the program will expand the scope of its online application system from re-applicants who have attended advice session on the case in question to all applicants. 

"Since its launch in 2013, the Procedural Advice Scheme has conducted over 24,000 advice sessions for about 9,000 eligible litigants. The enhancements will further respond to the society's needs and benefit more people in need," a spokesman for Administration Wing was quoted as saying in the statement.

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Under the enhanced program, applicants will remain responsible at all times for the conduct of their own proceedings.