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Legal
Aid 
Victims of child abuse, spouse / cohabitant battering or sexual
violence may apply for legal aid at the Legal Aid
Department (LAD) to institute civil legal proceedings.
A battered spouse / cohabitant may apply for a non-molestation
order, ouster order or injunction order, where appropriate.
A battered spouse, who decides to have divorce, may
also commence divorce proceedings at the same time.
A victim of child abuse or sexual violence or a battered cohabitant may institute
civil legal proceedings for an injunction order, other
legal remedies and/or damages, where appropriate.
The victim may apply for legal aid at the following offices:
Hong Kong Office at 24/F, Queensway Government Offices,
66 Queensway, Hong Kong (near Admiralty MTR Station)
Tel. no.: 2537 7661
Kowloon Branch Office at G/F, Mongkok Government
Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Kowloon (adjacent to
Mongkok KCR Station)
Tel. no.: 2380 0117
To qualify for legal aid, the victim has to pass:
the means test i.e. the victim’s financial resources
are within a specified level; and
the merits test i.e. there are reasonable grounds for
instituting civil proceedings, (e.g. except in divorce
proceedings, LAD has to consider whether the proposed
defendant/respondent can be located, and there is a
good prospect of a successful claim and successful recovery
of damages, etc.); LAD will consider the merits of each
application case by case.
For any urgent application for legal aid, for example,
the victim wishes to apply for a non-molestation order,
ouster order or injunction order, etc. LAD may arrange
prompt appointment for assessing the means of the victim
and statement-taking.
When the victim has satisfied the means and merits tests
and a legal aid certificate has been granted to take appropriate
Court proceedings, the assigned lawyer will take instructions
from and advise the victim on the appropriate course of
action. The assigned lawyer will then take such legal
action as appropriate to protect the victim's legal rights.
Urgent appointment may be arranged for the victim to meet
the lawyer whenever necessary. The victim will be fully
informed of the progress of the Court proceedings.
Other Information:
24-hour Hotline: 2537 7677
LAD website: http://www.info.gov.hk/lad
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