Costs in Criminal Cases Ordinance (Chapter 492), Hong Kong, China

• Chapter: 492 COSTS IN CRIMINAL CASES ORDINANCE
  • PART I PRELIMINARY
    • Section: 1 Short title
    • Section: 2 Interpretation
  • PART II DEFENCE COSTS
    • Section: 3 Defence costs in summary proceedings
    • Section: 4 Defence costs if not tried
    • Section: 5 Defence costs in case of acquittal
    • Section: 6 Defence costs in case of partial acquittal on multiple charge
    • Section: 7 Defence costs on discharge after committal without a hearing
    • Section: 8 Defence costs on appeal from magistrate
    • Section: 9 Defence costs where appeal allowed by Court of Appeal
    • Section: 9A Defence costs where Court of Appeal dismisses appeal by way of case stated
    • Section: 9B Defence costs on unsuccessful application by prosecutor for a certificate of Court of Appeal or Court of First Instance
    • Section: 10 Defence costs to be a charge on the general revenue or recoverable as a civil debt
  • PART III PROSECUTION COSTS
    • Section: 11 Prosecution costs in summary proceedings
    • Section: 12 Prosecution costs for indictable offences
    • Section: 13 Prosecution costs where judge or Court of Appeal dismisses unmeritorious appeal by defendant
    • Section: 13A Prosecution costs where Court of Appeal allows appeal by way of case stated
    • Section: 13B Prosecution costs on unsuccessful application by defendant for a certificate of Court of Appeal or Court of First Instance
    • Section: 14 Prosecution costs to be recoverable as a civil debt
  • PART IV GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND UNNECESSARY AND WASTED COSTS
    • Section: 15 General principles
    • Section: 16 Liability for costs of legally aided defendant
    • Section: 17 Costs unnecessarily or improperly incurred
    • Section: 18 Liability of legal or other representatives for wasted costs
  • PART V APPEALS, TAXATION AND RULES
    • Section: 19 Appeals against award of costs
    • Section: 20 Taxation of costs
    • Section: 21 Review of taxation of costs
    • Section: 22 Rules and orders
  • PART VI (Omitted as spent)
    • Section: 23 (Omitted as spent)
    • Section: 24 (Omitted as spent)
  • PART VI (Omitted as spent)
  • PART VII TRANSITIONAL
    • Section: 25 Transitional

An Ordinance to provide for costs in criminal cases.

(Enacted 1996) [17 January 1997] L.N. 25 of 1997 (Originally 39 of 1996)

PART I

PRELIMINARY

(1) This Ordinance may be cited as the Costs in Criminal Cases Ordinance.

(2) (Omitted as spent) (Enacted 1996)

In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires"contribution" (分擔費用) has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91); "court" (法院) includes a magistrate, the District Court, the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal;

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) "defendant" (被告人) includes-

(a) an accused person;

(b) a defendant served with a copy of a notice of prosecution under section 7D of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227);

(c) any person against whom an information or a complaint is laid or criminal proceedings are instituted; and

(d) in the case of a defendant who is appealing against conviction or any other finding or verdict made in respect of him or sentence, an appellant; "Director of Legal Aid" (法律援助署署長) has the meaning assigned to "Director" in section 2 of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91); "District Judge" (區域法院法官) includes a Deputy District Judge; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) "information" (告發) has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227); "judge" (法官) means a Justice of Appeal, a judge of the Court of First Instance, a recorder of the Court of First Instance and a deputy judge of the Court of First Instance; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) "Legal Aid Officer" (法律援助主任) has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Legal Aid ordinance (Cap 91); "legal officer" (律政人員) has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Legal Officers Ordinance (Cap 87); "legal or other representative" (法律代表或其他代表) includes any person who has a right of audience or a right to conduct litigation on behalf of any party to the proceedings or who is exercising any such right; "legally aided defendant" (獲法律援助的被告人) has the meaning assigned to "aided person" in section 2 of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91); "party to the proceedings" (法律程序中一方) means the defendant or the prosecutor;

"procedural Ordinance" (程序條例) means the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221); "prosecutor" (檢控人) includes-

(a) any person who lays an information or a complaint or institutes criminal proceedings; and

(b) in the case of an appeal by a defendant against conviction or any other finding or verdict made in

respect of him or sentence, the respondent in any such appeal; "wasted costs" (虛耗訟費) means any costs incurred by a party to the proceedings-

(a) as a result of-

(i) any seriously improper act or omission; or

(ii) any undue delay or any other serious misconduct,
on the part of any representative or any employee of a representative; or

(b) which, in the light of any such act, omission, delay or misconduct occurring after they were incurred, the court considers it is unreasonable to expect that party to the proceedings to pay. (Replaced 10 of 2008 s. 20)

(Enacted 1996)

PART II

DEFENCE COSTS

(1) Where

(a) an information or complaint laid before a magistrate is not proceeded with;

(b) a magistrate inquiring into an indictable offence determines not to commit the defendant for trial;

(c) a magistrate dealing with a summary offence or any offence summarily dismisses the information or complaint or acquits the defendant; or

(d) a magistrate, under section 104 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227)- (Amended 14 of 2003 s. 10)

(i) on the application of the defendant or on his own initiative reviews his decision, and on that review reverses or varies his decision; or

(ii) on the application of the prosecutor reviews his decision, and on that review confirms his

decision, (Amended 14 of 2003 s. 10) the magistrate may order that costs be awarded to the defendant.

(2) An order for costs under subsection (1) shall not exceed $30000, unless

(a) the defendant and the prosecutor have agreed upon the terms of any order to be made by the magistrate for costs exceeding that sum; or

(b) the magistrate, in the absence of any such agreement, orders that those costs be taxed.

(3) The Chief Justice may, with the approval of the Legislative Council, by order, amend the sum specified in

subsection (2). (Enacted 1996)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Where a defendant is not tried for an offence for which he has been indicted or committed for trial, the District Court or the Court of First Instance may order that costs be awarded to the defendant. (Enacted 1996. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Where after trial in the District Court or the Court of First Instance a defendant is acquitted, the District Court or the Court of First Instance may order that costs be awarded to the defendant. (Enacted 1996. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Without affecting the power conferred on a magistrate under section 3(1)(c) or, on the District Court or the Court of First Instance under section 5 to order that costs be awarded to a defendant who is acquitted, where a defendant who is charged with the commission of more than one offence is acquitted of one or more than one but not all of any of such offences, the court may in relation to all or any of such acquittals order that costs be awarded to the defendant.

(Enacted 1996. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

Where a judge directs that a defendant be discharged under section 16 of the procedural Ordinance, the judge may order that costs be awarded to the defendant. (Enacted 1996)

Where a judge-

(a)

allows an appeal to which section 105 or 113 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227) applies, in the exercise of his powers under section 120 of that Ordinance; or

(b)

in any appeal against sentence imposed by a magistrate, quashes the sentence and in place of it imposes a less severe punishment than that so imposed,

the judge may order that costs be awarded to the defendant. (Enacted 1996)

(1) Where the Court of Appeal allows an appeal to which this section applies, the Court of Appeal may order that costs be awarded to the defendant.

(2) This section applies to any appeal-

(a)

under section 82 of the procedural Ordinance against conviction;

(b)

under section 83G or 83H of the procedural Ordinance against sentence, if and only if, the Court of Appeal quashes the sentence and in place of it imposes a less severe punishment than that imposed by the court below, under section 83I(4) of that Ordinance;

(c)

under section 83J of the procedural Ordinance against verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, except where the Court of Appeal deals with the appeal under section 83K(4)(a) of that Ordinance;

(d)

under section 83M of the procedural Ordinance against a finding under section 75 of that Ordinance that the defendant is under a disability, except where the Court of Appeal deals with the appeal under section 83N(3) of that Ordinance.

(Enacted 1996)

If the Court of Appeal dismisses an appeal under section 84 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336), the Court of Appeal may order that costs be awarded to the defendant. (Added 23 of 2002 s. 9)

Where the prosecutor unsuccessfully applies to the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance for a certificate under section 32(2) of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484), and the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance, as the case may be, is satisfied that the application is without merit, the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance, as the case may be, may order that costs be awarded to the defendant.

(Added 10 of 2005 s. 45)

Any costs awarded to a defendant by virtue of an order made under this Part shall-

(a)

in respect of criminal proceedings instituted by or on behalf of the Government, be charged on the general revenue;

(b)

in respect of criminal proceedings instituted by or on behalf of any person other than the Government, be a charge against such person and a debt due to the defendant from that person and be recoverable as a civil debt.

(Enacted 1996)

PART III

PROSECUTION COSTS

(1) Where

(a)

a defendant is convicted by a magistrate or a magistrate makes an order on complaint in respect of a defendant under the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap 227); or

(b)

a magistrate, under section 104 of that Ordinance, on the application of the defendant reviews and subsequently confirms his decision to convict a defendant or to make an order on complaint in respect of a defendant,

the magistrate may order that costs be awarded to the prosecutor.

(2)

An order for costs under subsection (1) shall not exceed $30000, unless

(a)

the defendant and the prosecutor have agreed upon the terms of any order to be made by the magistrate for costs exceeding that sum; or

(b)

the magistrate, in the absence of any such agreement, orders that those costs be taxed.

(3)

The Chief Justice may, with the approval of the Legislative Council, by order, amend the sum specified in

subsection (2). (Enacted 1996)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

Where a defendant is convicted of an offence by or before the District Court or the Court of First Instance, the District Court and the Court of First Instance may, in addition to such sentence as may otherwise be passed by law, order that costs be awarded to the prosecutor.

(Enacted 1996. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) Where a defendant unsuccessfully-

(a)

appeals to a judge from any conviction, order or determination of a magistrate; or

(b)

appeals to the Court of Appeal against-

(i)

his conviction of an offence or any other finding or verdict made in respect of him; or

(ii)

sentence; or

(c)

applies to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal against any of the matters referred to in paragraph

(a), and the judge or the Court of Appeal is satisfied that the appeal or the application, as the case may be, is or was without merit, the judge or the Court of Appeal may order that costs be awarded to the prosecutor.

(Enacted 1996)

If on hearing an appeal under section 84 of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336), the Court of Appeal reverses the verdict or order of acquittal, the Court of Appeal may order that costs be awarded to the prosecutor. (Added 23 of 2002 s. 10)

Where a defendant unsuccessfully applies to the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance for a certificate under section 32(2) of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484), and the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance, as the case may be, is satisfied that the application is without merit, the Court of Appeal or the Court of First Instance, as the case may be, may order that costs be awarded to the prosecutor.

(Added 10 of 2005 s. 46)

(1)

Any costs awarded to a prosecutor by virtue of an order made under this Part shall be a debt due to the prosecutor from the defendant and be recoverable as a civil debt.

(2)

Where prior to an order being made under this Part any moneys were taken from a defendant on his apprehension, arrest, being taken into custody or his surrender to custody or were paid into court by a defendant, the court may, on the making of any such order, order that the payment of any costs awarded to the prosecutor or any part thereof be made out of any moneys so taken or paid.

(3) Subsection (2) shall not apply to moneys that are a first charge for the benefit of the Director of Legal Aid

within the meaning of section 18A(1) of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91). (Enacted 1996)

PART IV

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND UNNECESSARY AND WASTED COSTS

In any criminal proceedings-

(a)

the costs that may be awarded by virtue of an order shall not be punitive but shall be such sums as appear to a court or a judge reasonably sufficient to compensate any party to the proceedings for any expenses properly incurred by him in the course of those proceedings, including any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto;

(b)

a court or a judge may have regard to any assessment laid before it or him for their assistance by any

party to the proceedings of the amount of costs properly so incurred by any such party;

(c)

an order as to costs shall be such as a court or a judge considers just and reasonable;

(d)

the amount to be paid in pursuance of an order as to costs shall, unless an order for taxation is made under section 20, be specified in that order;

(e)

the question of whether or not an order as to costs ought to be made in respect of any expenses properly incurred by any party to the proceedings in the course of the proceedings, including any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto, may be adjourned until the end of those proceedings;

(f)

a court or a judge may take into account any other order as to costs which has been made in respect of

those proceedings. (Enacted 1996)

(1)

The Director of Legal Aid shall not be liable for any costs awarded to a prosecutor by virtue of an order made under this Part in respect of a legally aided defendant.

(2)

Except in the circumstances and to the extent mentioned in subsection (3), a legally aided defendant shall not be liable for any costs awarded to a prosecutor in respect of him by virtue of an order made under this Part.

(3) The circumstances and extent referred to in subsection (2) are-

(a)

that he has paid or is liable to pay a contribution to the Director of Legal Aid;

(b)

that the maximum contribution paid or payable by him is more than the net liability of the Director of Legal Aid on his account within the meaning of section 18A(2) of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91) and the Director of Legal Aid has repaid or is liable to repay the excess to him; and

(c)

his liability shall not be more than the amount of that excess. (Enacted 1996)

Where at any time in the course of criminal proceedings a court or a judge is satisfied that costs have been incurred in respect of the proceedings by a party to the proceedings as a result of an unnecessary or improper act or omission by or on behalf of the other party to the proceedings, the court or the judge may, after hearing all such parties, order that all or part of the costs so incurred shall be paid to the first-mentioned party to the proceedings by the other party to the proceedings.

(Enacted 1996)

(1)

In any criminal proceedings a court or a judge may order the legal or other representative concerned to meet the payment of any wasted costs or any part thereof.

(2)

No order under subsection (1) shall be made unless the legal or other representative concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity to appear before the court or the judge and show cause why the order should not be made.

(3)

When determining whether or not to make an order under subsection (1), the court or the judge shall, in addition to all other relevant circumstances, take into account the interest that there be fearless advocacy under the adversarial system of justice.

(4)

Subject to subsection (5), any wasted costs ordered to be paid by a legal or other representative under subsection (1) shall be a debt due to the party to the proceedings in whose favour such order was made from the representative and enforceable as a civil debt.

(5)

Where an order is made under subsection (1) in favour of a legally aided defendant, the wasted costs ordered to be paid shall be a debt due to the Director of Legal Aid and enforceable as a civil debt by the Director in his own name.

(6)

Where an order is made under subsection (1) against a legal officer or a Legal Aid Officer having or exercising a right of audience or conducting litigation on behalf of the Government, the wasted costs ordered to be paid shall be charged on the general revenue.

(Replaced 10 of 2008 s. 21)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

PART V

APPEALS, TAXATION AND RULES

(1)

Where a court or a judge has made an order that costs be awarded to any of the parties to the proceedings any of such parties may appeal against that order.

(2)

A legal or other representative who has been ordered to meet the payment of any wasted costs or any part thereof may appeal against that order.

(3) Where the order for costs which is the subject of an appeal under this section was made

(a)

by a magistrate, the appeal shall lie to the Court of First Instance;

(b)

by the District Court or the Court of First Instance, the appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

(4)

On an appeal under this section a court or a judge shall, if it or he allows the appeal, quash the order which is the subject of the appeal and subject to subsection (5), make such order for costs in place of it, as it or he thinks appropriate for the case.

(5)

An order for costs under subsection (4) may not, in the case where a prosecutor successfully appeals under subsection (1) against an order made in respect of a defendant, include an order that the defendant meet the payment of the prosecutor's costs on that appeal or any part thereof.

(Enacted 1996)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

(1) Where an order for costs is made by a court or a judge under this Ordinance the court or the judge may order that those costs be taxed.

(2) Where an order that costs be taxed is made under this section-

(a)

by a magistrate or by the District Court, those costs shall be taxed by the Registrar of the District Court;

(b)

by a judge or by the Court of Appeal, those costs shall be taxed by the Registrar of the High Court.

(Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) (Enacted 1996)

Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2

A party to the proceedings in respect of whom costs have been taxed who is aggrieved by that taxation may apply for the taxation to be reviewed-

(a) in the case of costs taxed under section 20(2)(a), to the Registrar of the District Court; and

(b) in the case of costs taxed under section 20(2)(b), to the Registrar of the High Court, and on receipt of any such application, the Registrar of the District Court or the Registrar of the High Court, as the case may be, shall review the taxation accordingly.

(Enacted 1996. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2) The Chief Justice may, with the approval of the Legislative Council, make rules and orders providing for

(a)

practices and procedures under this Ordinance; and

(b)

matters relating to taxation of costs and reviews of such taxation. (Enacted 1996)

PART VII

TRANSITIONAL

This Ordinance shall not apply to criminal proceedings in respect of offences committed before the coming into operation of this Ordinance. (Enacted 1996)

• 章： 492 刑事案件訟費條例
  • 第I部 導言
    • 條： 1 簡稱
    • 條： 2 釋義
  • 第II部 辯方訟費
    • 條： 3 在簡易法律程序中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 4 在未經審訊的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 5 在獲判無罪的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 6 在被控多於一項罪行而就部分罪行獲判無罪的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 7 在交付審訊後未經聆訊而釋放被告人的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 8 在對裁判官判案提出上訴的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 9 在上訴法庭判決上訴得直的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 9A 上訴法庭駁回以案件呈述的方式提出的上訴時的辯方訟費
    • 條： 9B 在檢控人未能成功申請上訴法庭或原訟法庭的證明書的案件中的辯方訟費
    • 條： 10 辯方訟費由政府一般收入撥款支付或可作為民事債項予以追討
  • 第III部 控方訟費
    • 條： 11 在簡易法律程序中的控方訟費
    • 條： 12 可公訴罪行的控方訟費
    • 條： 13 在法官或上訴法庭駁回被告人沒有好的成功機會的上訴案件中的控方訟費
    • 條： 13A 上訴法庭判決以案件呈述的方式提出的上訴得直時的控方訟費
    • 條： 13B 在被告人未能成功申請上訴法庭或原訟法庭的證明書的案件中的控方訟費
    • 條： 14 控方訟費可作為民事債項予以追討
  • 第IV部 一般性原則及不必要的訟費及虛耗訟費
    • 條： 15 一般性原則
    • 條： 16 獲法律援助的被告人對訟費的法律責任
    • 條： 17 不必要或不恰當地招致的訟費
    • 條： 18 法律代表或其他代表對虛耗訟費的法律責任
  • 第V部 上訴、訟費評定及規則
    • 條： 19 對判給訟費提出的上訴
    • 條： 20 訟費的評定
    • 條： 21 訟費評定的覆核
    • 條： 22 規則及命令
  • 第VI部 (已失時效而略去)
    • 條： 23 (已失時效而略去)
    • 條： 24 (已失時效而略去)
  • 第VII部 過渡性條文
    • 條： 25 過渡性條文

在本條例中，除文意另有所指外─ “分擔費用”(contribution) 具有《法律援助條例》(第91章)第2條給予該詞的涵義； “告發”(information) 具有《裁判官條例》(第227章)第2條給予該詞的涵義； “法官”(judge) 指上訴法庭法官、原訟法庭法官、原訟法庭特委法官及原訟法庭暫委法官； (由

1998年第25號第2條修訂；由1999年第39號第3條修訂) “法律代表或其他代表”(legal or other representative) 包括任何有出庭發言權或有權代表法律程序中一

方進行訴訟的人或正在行使任何該等權力的人； “法律程序中一方”(party to the proceedings) 指被告人或檢控人； “法律援助主任”(Legal Aid Officer) 具有《法律援助條例》(第91章)第2條給予該詞的涵義； “法律援助署署長”(Director of Legal Aid) 具有《法律援助條例》(第91章)第2條給予“署長”一詞的

涵義； “法院”(court) 包括裁判官、區域法院、原訟法庭及上訴法庭； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂) “律政人員”(legal officer) 具有《律政人員條例》(第87章)第2條給予該詞的涵義； “被告人”(defendant) 包括─

(a) 被控人；

(b) 根據《裁判官條例》(第227章)第7D條獲送達檢控通知書的被告人；

(c) 任何有告發或申訴對其提出或有刑事法律程序對其提起的人；及

(d)上訴人(若被告人不服定罪或不服就他所作出的其他裁斷或裁決或不服判處而正在提出

上訴)； “區域法院法官”(District Judge) 包括暫委區域法院法官； (由1998年第25號第2條修訂) “程序條例”(procedural Ordinance) 指《刑事訴訟程序條例》(第221章)； “虛耗訟費”(wasted costs) 指符合以下說明的訟費— (a) 有關訟費是因任何代表或任何代表的僱員的—

(i) 嚴重不當的作為或不作為；或

(ii) 不當的延誤或任何其他嚴重不當行為，
而由法律程序中的一方招致的；或

(b)鑑於在該等訟費招致後發生的該等作為、不作為、延誤或不當行為，法院認為期望由法律程序中該方支付該等訟費是不合理的。 (由2008年第10號第20條代替) “獲法律援助的被告人”(legally aided defendant)具有《法律援助條例》(第91章)第2條給予“受助

人”一詞的涵義； “檢控人”(prosecutor) 包括─

(a) 任何提出告發或申訴或提起刑事法律程序的人；及

(b)上訴案的答辯人(若被告人不服定罪或不服就他所作出的其他裁斷或裁決或不服判處而

提出上訴)。 (1996年制定)

第II部

辯方訟費

(1) 凡─

(a) 已有告發或申訴向裁判官提出，但其後並無繼續進行程序；

(b) 裁判官在研訊某可公訴罪行後，裁定不將被告人交付審訊；

(c)裁判官在處理任何簡易罪行或以簡易程序處理任何罪行後，撤銷該告發或申訴或判被告人無罪；或

(d) 裁判官根據《裁判官條例》(第227章)第104條─ (由2003年第14號第10條修訂)

(i) 應被告人的申請或主動覆核其決定，並在該覆核中推翻或更改其決定；或

(ii) 應檢控人的申請覆核其決定，並在該覆核中確認其決定， (由2003年第14號第10條

修訂) 裁判官可命令將訟費判給被告人。

1. (2) 根據第(1)款就訟費而作出的命令，其款額不得超逾$30000，但在下列情況下除外─
1. (a)被告人及檢控人已就裁判官將會就訟費作出的任何命令的條款達成協議，協定訟費可超逾該款額；或
2. (b) 在沒有任何該類協議的情況下，裁判官命令評定該等訟費。
1. 終審法院首席法官可在獲得立法會批准下，藉命令修訂第(2)款指明的款額。 (由1998年第

25號第2條修訂；由1999年第39號第3條修訂) (1996年制定)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡被告人已就某罪行被提起公訴或交付審訊，但其後並無就該罪行接受審訊，區域法院或原訟

法庭可命令將訟費判給被告人。

(1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡被告人在區域法院或原訟法庭接受審訊後獲判無罪，區域法院或原訟法庭可命令將訟費判給被告人。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在不影響根據第3(1)(c)條賦予裁判官或根據第5條賦予區域法院或原訟法庭命令將訟費判給獲判無罪的被告人的權力下，凡被告人被控犯了多於一項罪行，但其後就其中某罪行或某些罪行(但非全部罪行)獲判無罪，法院可就獲判無罪的全部或部分罪行命令將訟費判給被告人。

(1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡法官根據程序條例第16條指示將被告人釋放，該法官可命令將訟費判給被告人。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡─

(a)法官行使其在《裁判官條例》(第227章)第120條下的權力，判該條例第105或113條所適用的上訴得直；或

(b)法官在不服任何裁判官的判處而提出的上訴中，撤銷該項判處而以較該裁判官所判處的懲罰為輕的另一項懲罰取代，

則該法官可命令將訟費判給被告人。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂) 附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

1. (1) 凡上訴法庭判本條所適用的上訴得直，上訴法庭可命令將訟費判給被告人。
1. (2) 本條適用於─
1. (a) 不服定罪而根據程序條例第82條提出的上訴；
2. (b)不服判處而根據程序條例第83G或83H條提出的上訴，但只有當上訴法庭根據該條例第83I(4)條撤銷該項判處而以較下級法院所判處的懲罰為輕的另一項懲罰取代時方適用；
3. (c)不服以精神紊亂為理由而判無罪的裁決而根據程序條例第83J條提出的上訴，但若上訴法庭根據該條例第83K(4)(a)條處理該上訴則除外；
4. (d)不服根據程序條例第75條判被告人無行為能力的裁斷而根據該條例第83M條提出的上

訴，但若上訴法庭根據該條例第83N(3)條處理該上訴則除外。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

上訴法庭如駁回根據《區域法院條例》(第336章)第84條提出的上訴，則可命令將訟費判給被告

人。

(由2002年第23號第9條增補)

凡檢控人申請《香港終審法院條例》(第484章)第32(2)條下的上訴法庭或原訟法庭證明書而申請遭駁回，且上訴法庭或原訟法庭(視屬何情況而定)信納該申請是沒有好的成功機會的，則上訴法庭或原訟法庭(視屬何情況而定)可命令將訟費判給被告人。

(由2005年第10號第45條增補)

若有關的刑事法律程序─

(a)是由政府或代表政府提起的，任何憑藉根據本部所作出的命令而判給被告人的訟費須由政府一般收入撥款支付；

(b)是由政府以外的人或代表政府以外的人提起的，任何憑藉根據本部所作出的命令而判給被告人的訟費須由提起該法律程序的人支付，並須作為該人欠被告人的債項，且可作為民事債項予以追討。

(1996年制定) 附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條；1999年第39號第3條

第III部

控方訟費

(1) 凡─

(a)裁判官將被告人定罪或裁判官應申訴而根據《裁判官條例》(第227章)就被告人作出命令；或

(b)在裁判官根據該條例第104條應被告人的申請而覆核其決定後，確認將被告人定罪的決

定，或確認應申訴而就被告人作出命令的決定， 則該裁判官可命令將訟費判給檢控人。

1. (2) 根據第(1)款就訟費而作出的命令，其款額不得超逾$30000，但在下列情況下則除外─
1. (a)被告人及檢控人已就裁判官將會就訟費作出的任何命令的條款達成協議，協定訟費可超逾該款額；或
2. (b) 在沒有任何該類協議的情況下，裁判官命令評定該等訟費。
1. 終審法院首席法官可在獲得立法會批准下，藉命令修訂第(2)款指明的款額。 (由1998年第

25號第2條修訂；由1999年第39號第3條修訂) (1996年制定)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡被告人就某罪行而被區域法院或原訟法庭判有罪或在該等法院席前被判有罪，則區域法院及原訟法庭除可作出在其他情況下按法律可予作出的判處外，另可命令將訟費判給檢控人。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

凡被告人─

(a) 不服裁判官所作的定罪、命令或裁定而向法官提出上訴；或

(b) 不服以下事項向上訴法庭上訴─

(i) 他的定罪或就他所作出的其他裁斷或裁決；或

(ii) 判處；或

(c) 向上訴法庭申請不服(a)段所提述的任何事項而上訴的許可， 而該上訴或申請不成功，若法官或上訴法庭信納該上訴或申請(視屬何情況而定)是沒有好的成功機會的，則法官或上訴法庭可命令將訟費判給檢控人。

(1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

上訴法庭如在聆訊根據《區域法院條例》(第336章)第84條提出的上訴時，推翻有關的裁定無罪的裁決或命令，則可命令將訟費判給檢控人。 (由2002年第23號第10條增補)

凡被告人申請《香港終審法院條例》(第484章)第32(2)條下的上訴法庭或原訟法庭證明書而申請遭駁回，且上訴法庭或原訟法庭(視屬何情況而定)信納該申請是沒有好的成功機會的，則上訴法庭或原訟法庭(視屬何情況而定)可命令將訟費判給檢控人。

(由2005年第10號第46條增補)

1. 任何憑藉根據本部所作出的命令而判給檢控人的訟費，是被告人欠檢控人的債項，且可作為民事債項予以追討。
2. 凡在法院根據本部作出命令前，如在被告人被拘捕、逮捕或拘押或自動接受拘押時，自被告人取得任何款項或被告人向法院付給任何款項，則法院在作出任何此項命令時，可命令判給檢控人的訟費或該等訟費的任何部分，從任何如此取得的或如此付給的款項中支付。

(3)第(2)款並不適用於作為《法律援助條例》(第91章)第18A(1)條所指的為使法律援助署署長受

益的第一押記的款項。 (1996年制定)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第IV部

一般性原則及不必要的訟費及虛耗訟費

在任何刑事法律程序中─

(a)可憑藉命令判給的訟費不得為懲罰性，但法院或法官須覺得訟費的數額是合理地足夠補償法律程序中任何一方在該法律程序過程中(包括任何屬該法律程序的初步法律程序或該法律程序附帶引起的法律程序)恰當地招致的開支；

(b)法院或法官可顧及法律程序中任何一方為協助該法院或法官而向該法院或法官提交的

對該方恰當地招致的訟費數額所作的評估；

(c) 關於訟費的命令須屬法院或法官認為是公正而合理的；

(d)除非已有關於訟費評定的命令根據第20條作出，否則依據關於訟費的命令所須繳付的款額須在該命令中指明；

(e) 是否應就法律程序中任何一方在法律程序過程中(包括任何初步或附帶引起的法律程序)恰當地招致的開支而作出關於訟費的命令的問題，可押後至該法律程序終止時始作決定；

(f) 法院或法官可考慮已就該法律程序而作出的其他關於訟費的命令。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

1. 對於憑藉根據本部就獲法律援助的被告人作出的命令而判給檢控人的訟費，法律援助署署長不須負上法律責任。
2. 除第(3)款所述及的情況及範圍外，獲法律援助的被告人不須對於憑藉根據本部就他作出的命令而判給檢控人的訟費，負上法律責任。

(3) 第(2)款所提述的情況及範圍為─

(a) 他已向或須向法律援助署署長繳付分擔費用；

(b)他已繳付或須繳付的最高分擔費用多於《法律援助條例》(第91章)第18A(2)條所指的法律援助署署長為他承擔的費用淨額，而法律援助署署長已將或須將多繳之數發還給他；及

(c) 他在法律上所須承擔的費用不得多於該多繳之數。 (1996年制定)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

在刑事法律程序過程中的任何時間，法院或法官若信納該法律程序中的某一方就該法律程序所招致的訟費，乃因該法律程序中的另一方或其代表的不必要或不恰當的作為或不作為而招致，則法院或法官在聆訊雙方後，可命令該某一方所招致的訟費的全部或部分，由該另一方支付給該某一方。

(1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

1. 在任何刑事法律程序中，法院或法官可命令有關法律代表或其他代表負擔任何虛耗訟費或其任何部分的支付。
2. 除非有關法律代表或其他代表已獲給予合理的機會，在法院或法官席前提出不應根據第(1)款作出命令的因由，否則該命令不得作出。
3. 在決定是否根據第(1)款作出命令時，法院或法官除須考慮所有其他有關情況外，亦須考慮在對辯式訴訟的司法制度下進行無顧忌訟辯的利益。

(4)在不抵觸第(5)款的情況下，根據第(1)款飭令由法律代表或其他代表支付的虛耗訟費，屬該代表欠根據該命令獲付訟費的該法律程序中的一方的債項，並可作為民事債項予以強制執行。

1. 凡根據第(1)款作出的命令判獲法律援助的被告人獲付訟費，根據該命令須支付的虛耗訟費屬欠法律援助署署長的債項，並可由署長作為民事債項以本身名義予以強制執行。
2. 凡根據第(1)款作出的命令判有出庭發言權或有權代表政府進行訴訟或正在行使任何該等權利的律政人員或法律援助主任支付訟費，則根據該命令須支付的虛耗訟費，須由政府一般收入撥款支付。

(由2008年第10號第21條代替)

附註：

具追溯力的修訂─見1998年第25號第2條

第V部

上訴、訟費評定及規則

1. 凡法院或法官已作出命令，將訟費判給法律程序中任何一方，則法律程序中任何一方可提出上訴反對該命令。
1. 被命令負擔任何虛耗訟費或其部分的支付的法律代表或其他代表可就提出上訴反對該命令。
2. (3) 凡根據本條提出的上訴的標的是關於訟費的命令，而該命令是─
1. (a) 由裁判官作出的，則上訴須向原訟法庭提出；
2. (b) 由區域法院或原訟法庭作出的，則上訴須向上訴法庭提出。
2. 若法院或法官判決根據本條提出的上訴得直，而上訴的標的是某命令，法院或法官須撤銷該命令，並可在不抵觸第(5)款的條文下，就有關訟費另作出法院或法官認為就該個案而言屬適當的命令以代替被撤銷的命令。

(5)凡檢控人根據第(1)款針對就被告人作出的命令提出上訴而上訴成功，則根據第(4)款就訟費

所作出的命令，不得包括被告人須負擔檢控人在該上訴案中的訟費的支付或其部分的命令。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

1. (1) 凡法院或法官根據本條例作出關於訟費的命令，則法院或法官可命令評定該等訟費。
1. (2) 凡根據本條作出的訟費評定命令是─
1. (a) 由裁判官或區域法院作出的，則該等訟費須由區域法院司法常務官評定； (由2000年第28號第47條修訂)
2. (b) 由法官或上訴法庭作出的，則該等訟費須由高等法院司法常務官評定。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂)

任何法律程序中一方，若因根據─

(a)第20(2)(a)條就他所作出的訟費評定而感到受屈，可向區域法院司法常務官申請覆核該

項評定；及

(b)第20(2)(b)條就他所作出的訟費評定而感到受屈，可向高等法院司法常務官申請覆核該

項評定， 而區域法院司法常務官或高等法院司法常務官(視屬何情況而定)在收到該項申請後，須據此而覆核該項評定。

(1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由2000年第28號第47條修訂)

附註：

具追溯力的適應化修訂─見1998年第25號第2條；1999年第39號第3條

在經立法會同意下，終審法院首席法官可訂立規則和作出命令，以訂定─

(a) 本條例下的實務與程序；及

(b) 有關訟費評定的事宜及訟費評定的覆核。 (1996年制定。由1998年第25號第2條修訂；由1999年第39號第3條修訂)

第VI部 (已失時效而略去) (1996年制定)

(已失時效而略去)

(1996年制定)

第VII部 過渡性條文 本條例不適用於就在本條例實施前所犯的罪行而進行的刑事法律程序。

(1996年制定)