Cap. 8activeordinance

Evidence Ordinance

證據條例

Full legislation

s.49

Considerations relevant to weighing of hearsay evidence

(1)
In estimating the weight, if any, to be given to hearsay evidence in civil proceedings the court shall have regard to any circumstances from which any inference can reasonably be drawn as to the reliability or otherwise of the evidence.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1), regard may be had, in particular, to the
following—
(a)
whether it would have been reasonable and practicable for the party by whom the evidence was adduced to have produced the maker of the original statement as a witness;
(b)
whether the original statement was made contemporaneously with the occurrence or existence of the matters stated;
(c)
whether the evidence involves multiple hearsay;
(d)
whether any person involved had any motive to conceal or misrepresent matters;
(e)
whether the original statement was an edited account, or was made in collaboration with another or for a particular purpose;
(f)
whether the circumstances in which the evidence is adduced as hearsay are such as to suggest an attempt to prevent proper evaluation of its weight;
(g)
whether or not the evidence adduced by the party is consistent with any evidence previously adduced by the party.