Archives - Details
Record ID
HKRS245
Title
Supreme Court Case Files
Date
1927 - 1977
Level
Series
Archival History
The series was maintained in the custody of the creating agency until transfer to the PRO.
Creating Agency
Judiciary
Transferring Agency
Judiciary, Supreme Court, Secretary's Office, General Registry
Administrative / Biographical History
The Supreme Court was established under Ordinance No 15 of 1844 and opened on 4.3.1844. When the Court with Admiralty Jurisdiction was abolished in 1850 the functon was transferred to the Supreme Court. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court was restricted to Hong Kong in 1863. The Court's constitution was amended by Ordinance No 3 of 1873 and under Ordinance No 14 of 1873 summary jurisdiction at Law and Equity was conferred on the Supreme Court. In 1938 the Court's jurisdiction covered Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, Court of Assize and Nisi Prius, Probate, Divorce, Admiralty, Bankruptcy and Criminal Jurisdiction. During the period of British Military Administration after the Second World War, criminal jurisdiction was exercised by the General Military Court and Summary Military coourts. The Supreme Court re-opened on 1.5.1946 with the resumption of civil administration. It was reconstituted as a High Court and Court of Appeal under the Supreme Court Ordinance of 1976.
Scope and Content
The series comprises case files relating to trials and proceedings in criminal jurisdiction. The files contain charge sheets, notes of proceedings, statements and reports of witnesses and the police, lists of exhibits, medical reports, submissions by the defence and prosecution, certificates of sentence, letters and memoranda. Some files have been 'top numbered' from the Standing Military Court of Hong Kong.
Physical Description
Manila folders, 34.5 x 22 x 0.5-2 cm. Papers attached using Treasury tags.
Paper files, 33.5-34 x 21-22 tied with cotton or fastened using metal paper clips and placed in new manila folders.
Arrangement System
Year and consecutive single number system, the number restarting at '1' at the beginning of each year. Range of control symbols 1946/1 - 151/1976.
Conditions Governing Access
With the approval of the Judiciary
Language and Scripts
English and Chinese