- (iv) been a District Judge appointed in accordance with section 4 or 7 of the (Cap. 336.)District Court Ordinance:
- (v) been a permanent magistrate appointed by warrant under section 5 of the (Cap. 227.)Magistrates Ordinance;
- (vi) been a legal officer as defined in section 2 of the (Cap. 87.)Legal Officers Ordinance; or
- (vii) held any office specified in the (Cap. 100.)Registrar General (Establishment) Ordinance appointment to which is restricted to persons who are legally qualified.
(3) For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 years referred to in subsection (2), periods of less than 10 years falling within any of paragraphs (i) to (vii) of that subsection may be combined, and there may be included in such period, any period of practice as an advocate or solicitor in any of the courts referred to in subsection (2)(a).
Appointment of Commissioners. 10. (1) The Chief Justice may appoint a person to be a Commissioner of the High Court if—
- (a) the office of any judge of the High Court becomes vacant for any reason; or
- (b) he considers that the interests of the administration of justice require that a Commissioner should be appointed temporarily.
(2) Subject to the terms of his appointment, a Commissioner shall have and may exercise all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges and shall have and perform all the duties of a judge of the High Court, and any reference in any law to such a judge shall be construed accordingly.
(3) Without prejudice to the powers conferred on him by subsection (1), the Chief Justice may appoint a Commissioner under that subsection—
- (a) for the purposes of a specified case or class of cases only; or
- (b) for a specified period only.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Chief Justice may terminate the appointment of a Commissioner at any time.
Powers of Commissioners in cases which are part-heard on termination of appointment. 11. If the hearing of any proceedings before a Commissioner is adjourned or if he reserves judgment in any proceedings, the Commissioner shall have power to resume the hearing and determine the proceedings or deliver judgment, notwithstanding that his appointment as a Commissioner has expired or has been terminated.
PART III
Jurisdiction, Law, Practice and Powers
Jurisdiction of High Court. 12. (1) The High Court of Justice shall be a superior court of record.
(2) The civil jurisdiction of the High Court shall consist of—
- (a) original jurisdiction and authority of a like nature and extent as that held and exercised by the Chancery, Family and Queen’s Bench Divisions of the High Court of Justice in England; and
- (b) any other jurisdiction, whether original or appellate jurisdiction, conferred on it by any law.
