Why are Hong Kong courts becoming so popular with mainland Chinese tourists?
“It feels so magical to observe court proceedings in the High Court. I was watching The Other Truth the day before and I am sitting inside a court the next day,” she wrote.
“Lawyers in reality are rather calm, unlike those in Hong Kong dramas giving declamatory speeches,” she said, recounting her observations.
The user added that the public could not take photos inside the courtrooms and had to remain quiet.
More mainland tourists have been spotted in local courts since the border reopened in early 2023.
A Post reporter observed a Mandarin-speaking couple trying to snap photos of the Hong Kong Bar Association’s office inside the High Court last year. The couple stopped and left the building upon being reminded about the relevant rules.
According to the Summary Offences Ordinance, anyone who takes or publishes any photo in court can face a HK$2,000 (US$260) fine.
Video and audio recordings inside the court are also prohibited.
A mainland visitor in June 2018 was found guilty of criminal contempt of court at the High Court as she took photographs and uploaded photos on WeChat, a social media app popular among mainlanders.
The woman, who committed the offence during a court hearing related to Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy Occupy protests, was sentenced to seven days in jail and asked to pay HK$197,260 in legal fees.
Those convicted of criminal contempt of court can be punished with either a fine or jail time, depending on the severity of the offence.
The judiciary stepped up measures that same month, including broadcasting reminders inside the courtrooms, putting up more signs and deploying extra security guards.
It also announced further measures that took effect a month later and banned the public from using mobile phones or devices with photo-taking or video-recording capabilities inside courtrooms during jury trials.
Another photogenic spot among mainland tourists is the Court of Final Appeal in Central, a declared monument in Hong Kong that opened in 1912 and was designed in a Neoclassical style with tall Ionic columns.
A Xiaohongshu user in April of this year uploaded 13 photos of the exterior of the Court of Final Appeal, noting it is a “TVB filming location”.
“When I look at the architecture in real life, some drama scenes play in my mind. It feels magical, as if I was part of the drama,” the user said.
Some accounts also shared tips for visitors attending hearings, such as checking the court diary online, going through security checks and bowing to the judge.
03:22
Mainland Chinese social media Xiaohongshu highlights unlikely tourism spots in Hong Kong
Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said taking photos inside the court, including the corridors and toilets, was strictly banned for many reasons, including disclosing the identity of the jury and witnesses, as well as other safety concerns.
He noted the judiciary had trained and arranged numerous security guards to monitor visitors sitting in the courtroom’s public gallery, while signs informing visitors of the photography ban had been put up in courtrooms and lobbies.
Luk said taking photos in court fell under the Summary Offences Ordinance, but could also be considered criminal contempt of court, depending on the impact and intention behind such actions.
The barrister said security would first warn members of the public found to be in breach of the rules and would only pass the case to law enforcement agencies if visitors refused to cooperate.
“I think the system has been effective … After all, resources are limited and we cannot allocate all the resources to this area,” Luk said.
Lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun, who is also a lawyer, said Hong Kong’s legal system appealed to mainlanders given its characteristics, such as judges and lawyers wearing wigs in some courts.
“It is good to promote the Hong Kong judiciary but it has to ensure the trials are not interfered with,” he said.
Tse added that the judiciary could further step up its enforcement and consider introducing an observation appointment system or broadcasting trials live if needed.
The judiciary told the Post that court hearings were generally open to the public, with both locals and travellers free to visit.
“Open justice is key to maintaining public confidence in our judicial system and upholding the rule of law,” a spokesman said.
“Judiciary staff will take appropriate measures to stop any non-abiding behaviour during court proceedings, including seeking assistance from law enforcement agencies where necessary.”
The spokesman said the judiciary had been reminding court visitors to follow the rules in various ways, such as broadcasting in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, as well as putting up notices online and on the premises.
Additional reporting by Brian Wong