Hearings are conducted in open court before the Appeal Committee consisting of three judges. Only barristers and solicitor advocates duly assessed to be eligible for higher rights of audience in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Ordinance (Cap.159) may appear before the Appeal Committee as legal representatives for parties.

The Appeal Committee considers the application and decides whether to grant leave to appeal or to refuse leave and dismiss the application. This is the determination of the Appeal Committee and it is final and not subject to any further appeal.

The Appeal Committee does not usually give reasons for granting leave to appeal but will usually give short reasons where it refuses leave.