Evening sessions urged as fraud, money-laundering cases pack Hong Kong courts
The long wait for criminal cases to be heard in Hong Kong’s courts could persist because of a surge in fraud and money laundering litigation, the judiciary has warned, as the Law Society suggested extending sitting hours into the evening. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council’s panel on administration of justice and legal services, the judiciary said that the total caseload in 2025…
Hong Kong's judiciary has warned that the long wait times for criminal cases to be heard in the courts could persist due to a rise in fraud and money laundering litigation. The Law Society has suggested extending sitting hours into the evening to help alleviate the issue. In a recent report to the Legislative Council, the judiciary reported that the total caseload in 2025 reached around 537,000, which is about 4% higher than the annual average over the previous five years.
Criminal cases were waiting an average of 358 days to be heard in the High Court, while District Court cases waited 354 days on average, exceeding the court's 100-day target. The surge in money-laundering and fraud cases contributed to the longer waiting times. Experts recommend releasing trial duration breakdowns, extending operating hours, and considering "dawn courts" or remote hearings to address the backlog.
However, the judiciary warns that insufficient manpower during evening hours may hinder the effectiveness of these measures.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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