The Government has issued a Legislative Council Brief (File Ref: SBCR 11/14/3231/88) about its proposals to change the Criminal Justice Ordinance. If passed, the changes will allow Hong Kong courts to exercise jurisdiction over computer offences (including unauthorised access, criminal damage relating to misuse of a computer and access with criminal or dishonest intent) when the crimes are committed or planned outside Hong Kong.
These are the long-awaited changes that will make dealing with cybercrime a little easier. The Internet makes it easy for criminals to work Internationally, people in jurisdictions A and B can conspire together to use computers in jurisdiction C to attack computers in jurisdiction D, the changes will allow Hong Kong courts to take action, whether Hong Kong is A, B, C or D.