DoJ launches lawtech funding scheme to enhance lawtech application capability of legal sector
The Department of Justice (DoJ) officially launched the Funding Scheme for LawTech Solution Subscription by the Hong Kong Legal Sector (Scheme) today (November 3). The Scheme aims to encourage the Hong Kong legal sector to enhance their capability to adopt lawtech to fortify Hong Kong's status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. Eligible applicants can now apply to the HongKong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong for funding. The deadline for application is January 29, 2027.
The Department of Justice. Photo source: reference image
The Scheme, launched by the DoJ, is a policy initiative under the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address. The Scheme will be managed by the Law Society of Hong Kong and the HongKong Bar Association, including approving applications and releasing funding. Sole practitioners or Hong Kong law firms with no more than five partners, and barristers with no more than seven years of call are eligible for application.
Eligible applicants can select suitable services from the designated list of lawtech service providers. The list covers a variety of lawtech services provided by 14 local, Chinese Mainland and overseas service providers, including legal research, document generation and drafting, workflow management and hearing support. The Scheme operates on an actual-expense reimbursement basis, providing funding for each eligible applicant up to $20,000 for a one-year subscription of the services.
The application process is simple and consists of four steps:
(1) Eligible applicants select a service provider from the list and obtain a written price quotation;
(2) Eligible applicants submit their applications to their respective legal professional bodies (i.e. the Hong Kong Bar Association or the Law Society of Hong Kong);
(3) The relevant legal professional body will notify the applicants of the result in writing. Upon receiving the approval notification, the applicant can subscribe to the selected designated service; and
(4) Eligible applicants submit proof of subscription and payment to their respective legal professional bodies to apply for reimbursement.
To ensure the effectiveness of the Scheme, lawtech service providers under the Scheme will provide transparent price lists, as well as ongoing technical support and training.
The Deputy Secretary for Justice and Chairman of the Consultation Group on LawTech Development, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan. Photo source: reference image
The Deputy Secretary for Justice and Chairman of the Consultation Group on LawTech Development, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, said that promoting the use of lawtech is a key policy initiative of the DoJ. Since last year, the DoJ has hosted five rounds of the LexGoTech Roundtables, receiving extensive feedback from the sector, academics, and the relevant stakeholders regarding the adoption of lawtech and the development of the legal sector. Furthermore, the DoJ notes that small and medium-sized law firms, as well as junior barristers, are particularly concerned about the financial burden of adopting lawtech tools. The Scheme is launched to respond to the needs of the sector.
Noting that small and medium-sized law firms currently account for about 88 per cent of all Hong Kong law firms, while barristers with less than seven years of call make up about one-third of the total practicing barristers, Dr Cheung said that the Scheme will help lower the barrier for them to adopt lawtech, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong's legal sector.
Dr Cheung added that the Hong Kong LawTech Fest 2026 will be held during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026 (November 4 to 6). Designated service providers under the Scheme will participate in the LawTech Exhibition and conduct live demonstrations at the Insight Stage. He urged members of the sector toregister for and attend the Hong Kong LawTech Fest 2026 to learn about the practical applications of lawtech.
Relevant information, including Scheme details and application guidelines, has been uploaded to the dedicated webpages of the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association. Interested applicants are welcome to browse the webpages.
DH reminds public to take appropriate preventive measures against measles amid outbreaks in multiple countries due to low vaccination rates
Due to ongoing measles outbreaks in multiple countries around the world caused by low vaccination rates, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 3) reminded members of the public planning to travel abroad to visit the DH's Travel Health Service webpagebefore departure to check if their destination has a high incidence of measles or an outbreak. They should take appropriate preventive measures, such as ensuring they had received two doses of the measles vaccination, and maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times. International students in affected countries should also review their vaccination records. If they are unsure whether they had received two doses of the measles vaccination, they should arrange to get vaccinated as soon as possible to prevent infection. As the winter break will soon begin in some countries, and students studying abroad will return to Hong Kong, the CHP urged the public to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they feel unwell. They should also report their symptoms and travel history to the healthcare workers before their appointment so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent a community spread. Schools should also remain vigilant to reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission on campus.
Measles is an endemic infection in many parts of the world. So far this year, the United States (US) has recorded more than 4 800 cases of measles, more than double last year's total. The situation remains out of control in the US. Pennsylvania and New York have reported measles-related deaths, and none of the deceased had received the measles vaccination. In Asia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Laos and the Philippines have also experienced measles outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage.
"Overseas cases mainly affected individuals who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, underscoring the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity. Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme and its immunisation services provided by the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres and the School Immunisation Teams, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level. This has enabled Hong Kong to successfully maintain its measles-free status to date, even amid measles outbreaks in many parts of the world. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent. The local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. On the whole, the risk of a large-scale outbreak in Hong Kong is low. However, as a city with a high volume of international travel, Hong Kong still faces the potential risk of measles importation. Locally, a small number of people who have not completed a measles vaccination (such as non-local born people, including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under 1 year old who have not yet received the first dose of measles vaccine," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
A total of nine measles cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far this year. Six were either imported cases or epidemiologically linked to imported cases. The remaining three were local cases. Among the imported cases, patients visited Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam during their incubation periods.
People born before 1967 could be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in many parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. People born in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, should consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, if they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination. Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy as well as children aged under 1 year who are not due for the first dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) combined vaccine under theHong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, are advised not to travel to places with outbreaks of measles.
The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If travellers returning from places with a high incidence or outbreak of measles develop relevant symptoms, they should wear a surgical mask, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and avoid contact with people without immunity, especially those with weak immune systems, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal their relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals.
For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP'smeasles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH'sTravel Health Servicefor news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.
Source: AI-found images
