Hong Kong · civil procedure
What period applies to case management summons return interval?
Returnable in not less than 14 days. Select a return day satisfying the minimum interval. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing.
- Period
- Returnable in not less than 14 days
- Trigger
- Actual taking out of the case-management summons
- Rule
- Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)
Official verified English consolidated chapter 4A, version October 1,2025. Acquired October 9, 2026, with the official current register and immutable verified PDF. Current verified official English consolidated chapter PDFs acquired October 9, 2026. Version dates retained per chapter register. No claim that a calendar proves future gale, black-rainstorm or emergency office closures.
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What period applies to case management summons return interval?
Returnable in not less than 14 days. Select a return day satisfying the minimum interval. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing.
Responsible actor. Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons.
Actual taking out of the case-management summons
Returnable in not less than 14 days
Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons. Actual summons issue; No agreed directions replacing the disputed route; Applicable Practice Direction issue timing separately established. This fourteen-day minimum does not establish the separate deadline to issue the summons under the Practice Direction.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)How does this provision count time?
- Select a return day satisfying the minimum interval
- Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons uses the established actual taking out of the case-management summons. Returnable in not less than 14 days. Exclude the effective event day. Ordinary intervening weekends remain counted unless an applicable source provision excludes them. High Court Ordinance (Cap. 4), section 31(1), omits Summer Vacation for the applicable civil procedural period not exceeding one month unless the Court directs otherwise. Order 64 rule 1 supplies August 1 through August 31. Order 3 rule 3 separately covers pleading periods.
- Select a return day satisfying the minimum interval. An office calendar does not automatically change this service, deemed-event, minimum-interval or status boundary. The source and the actual completion route control. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing.
- The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing.
Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons uses the established actual taking out of the case-management summons. Returnable in not less than 14 days. Exclude the effective event day. Ordinary intervening weekends remain counted unless an applicable source provision excludes them. High Court Ordinance (Cap. 4), section 31(1), omits Summer Vacation for the applicable civil procedural period not exceeding one month unless the Court directs otherwise. Order 64 rule 1 supplies August 1 through August 31. Order 3 rule 3 separately covers pleading periods.
Select a return day satisfying the minimum interval. An office calendar does not automatically change this service, deemed-event, minimum-interval or status boundary. The source and the actual completion route control. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons. Actual taking out of the case-management summons occurs on Friday, October 9, 2026. The retained eligibility and ordinary procedural conditions apply.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons. Actual taking out of the case-management summons occurs on Friday, October 9, 2026. The retained eligibility and ordinary procedural conditions apply. Returnable in not less than 14 days. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing. | Friday, October 23, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons. Actual taking out of the case-management summons occurs on Monday, October 5, 2026. The retained eligibility and ordinary procedural conditions apply. Returnable in not less than 14 days. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing. | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons. Actual taking out of the case-management summons occurs on Friday, October 9, 2026. The complete eligibility and procedural facts are not established. This actual branch must be established independently before any ordinary endpoint can be used. Actual summons issue | This fourteen-day minimum does not establish the separate deadline to issue the summons under the Practice Direction. |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Actual summons issue
- Actual summons issue
- No agreed directions replacing the disputed route
- No agreed directions replacing the disputed route
- Applicable Practice Direction issue timing separately established
- Applicable Practice Direction issue timing separately established
- Correct source counting and completion route
- Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons uses the established actual taking out of the case-management summons. Returnable in not less than 14 days. Exclude the effective event day. Ordinary intervening weekends remain counted unless an applicable source provision excludes them. High Court Ordinance (Cap. 4), section 31(1), omits Summer Vacation for the applicable civil procedural period not exceeding one month unless the Court directs otherwise. Order 64 rule 1 supplies August 1 through August 31. Order 3 rule 3 separately covers pleading periods. Select a return day satisfying the minimum interval. An office calendar does not automatically change this service, deemed-event, minimum-interval or status boundary. The source and the actual completion route control. The output is an earliest ordinary return boundary, not proof that the Court listed a hearing.
- Plaintiff taking out a qualifying case-management summons. Actual summons issue; No agreed directions replacing the disputed route; Applicable Practice Direction issue timing separately established. This fourteen-day minimum does not establish the separate deadline to issue the summons under the Practice Direction.
- This fourteen-day minimum does not establish the separate deadline to issue the summons under the Practice Direction.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
What period applies to case management summons return interval?
Is fourteen days the deadline to issue the summons?
No. Order 25 rule 1(1B)(b) describes the minimum return interval. Issue timing comes from the applicable Practice Direction.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)What is the source event for the return interval?
The summons being taken out, not pleading closure.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)Does the model assign a Court listing?
No. It identifies the ordinary minimum. The actual return day must still be obtained and comply with directions.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)What if all parties agree directions?
The consent-summons route under rule 1(1A) can apply instead of the disputed case-management process.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)Can a different Court direction control?
Retain the actual direction. The ordinary minimum cannot replace a case-specific order.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)Why retain the questionnaire separately?
Its completion period and the summons issue requirement concern distinct acts and different anchors.
Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b)Official sources and review
Provisions used (5)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 25, rule 1(1B)(b) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the High Court (Cap.4A), Order3 rules1–5 and Order64 rule1 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| High Court Ordinance (Cap.4), section31(1), including its endorsed-writ proviso | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap.1), section71(1)–(2) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| General Holidays Ordinance (Cap.149), section3 and Schedule | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |