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