Deadline calculator

Hong Kong legal deadline calculator

Choose the court, tribunal or procedure, then enter what happened and when. You will get the date, citation and calculation steps.

Jurisdiction

Area of law

Court, tribunal or institution

Deadline

12 months from Date of issue of the writ

Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 6, rule 8(1)Binding

Rule notes

"beginning with the date of its issue" means the day of issue counts as the first day, so the writ expires on the day before the first anniversary of issue. This displaces the general O. 3, r. 2(2) exclusion of the first day. A concurrent writ inherits only the unexpired balance.

Establish the actual Hong Kong procedure

Plaintiff holding an original nonconcurrent writ. Serve the writ while its original validity remains.

Use the main date field for Issue of the original writ. 12 calendar months beginning with issue.

Establish the actual High Court or statutory branch. Summer omission applies only where its precise source supports it.

The compiled public holiday calendar covers 2026 and 2027. Actual gale, black-rainstorm and other Court-office closures remain separate facts.

This calculation assumes:

The actual actor, operative event, complete relevant history and completion route are established.
No different operative Court order, permitted agreement or statutory period changes this ordinary branch.
Original nonconcurrent writ
Actual issue date
No renewal order or alternative enactment

Was the Court office closed on any day in this period? (optional)

Actual gale or black-rainstorm dates

Actual other Court-office closure dates

A concurrent writ inherits only the original writ’s unexpired balance. An extension requires an actual order under Order 6 rule 8(2).

When did the clock start?

Choose the date using your device calendar. The control follows your device’s date format.

Loading calculator…

Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A)Review coverage and exclusions

5.0 average rating

Lawyers in three countries rate it 5 stars

The platform is really easy to use.
Michael B.Employment litigation attorneyCalifornia
The Evidence Record saved us time with our insurance on bankruptcy matters.
MariaBankruptcy and commercial attorneyLondon, UK
The most up-to-date service we could find.
Li ChenArbitration practitionerSingapore

Coverage

What you can calculate, save and export

Included forums

Court of First Instance
District Court
Court of Appeal
Court of Final Appeal
Judicial Review
Arbitration-related court applications
Limitation

Check outside the calculator

Weather closure days cannot be predicted in advance.
Institutional arbitration timetables and court-directed dates are outside this court calculator.

Primary-source collections

Hong Kong e-Legislation, Rules of the High Court

Deadline directory

Browse Hong Kong deadline rules

Search by deadline, citation or court. Each entry shows what starts the clock and whether the current rule can be calculated or needs checking.

Search deadline, citation or court

Court, province or procedure

Rule status

Calculable: fixed period and triggerReference only: no single fixed periodNeeds checking: verify the cited provision

Showing 24 of 120 matching rules

Courts - Court of First Instance

Validity of writ for service

12 months

Calculable

Time runs from: Date of issue of the writ
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 6, rule 8(1)

The trigger day counts as day one

Courts - Court of First Instance

Extension of validity of writ

12 months

Calculable

Time runs from: Day following the day on which the writ would otherwise expire; the application must be made before that day
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 6, rule 8(2)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Deemed date of service of writ by registered post or letter box

7 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Date on which the copy of the writ was sent to, or inserted through the letter box for, the address
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 10, rule 1(3)(a)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Deemed service of ordinary documents left at a document exchange

1 day

Needs checking

Time runs from: Day on which the document is left at the document exchange
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 65, rule 5(2A)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

One period cannot express this provision faithfully. Check the cited rule.

Courts - Court of First Instance

Acknowledgement of service of writ served within the jurisdiction

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the writ (the day of service counts)
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 12, rule 5(a)

The trigger day counts as day one

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of statement of claim (where not indorsed on the writ)

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: The defendant giving notice of intention to defend
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 1

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of defence

28 days

Calculable

Time runs from: The later of the expiry of the time limited for acknowledging service and service of the statement of claim
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of defence after leave to defend on a summary judgment summons

28 days

Calculable

Time runs from: The making of the order giving leave to defend on the Order 14 or Order 86 summons
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 2(2)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of defence after determination of a jurisdiction challenge

28 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Final determination of the Order 12, rule 8 application (where dismissed or no order made)
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 2(3)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of reply

28 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the defence on the plaintiff
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 3(4)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of defence to counterclaim

28 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the counterclaim on the plaintiff
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 3(4)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Close of pleadings where a reply or defence to counterclaim is served

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the reply or, if there is no reply, the defence to counterclaim
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 20(1)(a)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Close of pleadings where no reply or defence to counterclaim is served

28 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the defence
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 18, rule 20(1)(b)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Amended defence following an amended statement of claim

14 days

Needs checking

Time runs from: Service of the amended statement of claim, or the original period for the defence, whichever expires later
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 20, rule 3(2)(b)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

One period cannot express this provision faithfully. Check the cited rule.

Courts - Court of First Instance

Amended reply following an amended defence

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the amended defence on the plaintiff
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 20, rule 3(3)(b)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Discontinuance of action without leave

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the defence on the plaintiff, or of the defence last served where there are two or more defendants
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 21, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Discontinuance of counterclaim without leave

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service on the defendant of the defence to counterclaim, or of the defence to counterclaim last served
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 21, rule 2(2)(b)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of summary judgment summons and supporting affidavit

10 days

Calculable

Time runs from: The return day fixed for hearing the Order 14 summons
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 14, rule 2(3)

Clear days: both the trigger day and the end day are excluded

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of interim payment summons and supporting affidavit

10 days

Calculable

Time runs from: The return day for the interim payment application
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 29, rule 10(4)

Clear days: both the trigger day and the end day are excluded

Courts - Court of First Instance

Service of an ordinary interlocutory summons

2 days

Calculable

Time runs from: The day specified in the summons for the hearing
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 32, rule 3

Clear days: both the trigger day and the end day are excluded

Courts - Court of First Instance

Application to set aside judgment obtained in the absence of a party at trial

7 days

Needs checking

Time runs from: The trial at which the party did not appear
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 35, rule 2(2)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

One period cannot express this provision faithfully. Check the cited rule.

Courts - Court of First Instance

Exchange of lists of documents (automatic discovery)

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Deemed close of pleadings as between the party and any other party
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 24, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Affidavit verifying list of documents

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the notice requiring an affidavit verifying the list
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 24, rule 2(7)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - Court of First Instance

Notice of time for inspection of documents in a list

7 days

Needs checking

Time runs from: Service of the list of documents
Rule: Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A), Order 24, rule 9

Time runs from the day after the trigger

One period cannot express this provision faithfully. Check the cited rule.