the courts in hong kong did indeed have the jurisdiction to hear ‘academic’ cases, though the courts would normally dismiss such cases and demand the applicant to show some forms of harms or inabilities as a result of the government's judgements, decisions, or actions. at the end of the day, the court has the discretion to determine whether or not hear such cases. the reasons for the courts avoiding hearing academic cases were that it would be very dangerous for courts to make decisions on important legal principles without a full set of facts. when exceptional cases arose, the courts should carefully exercise the discretion to hear such cases and follow the instructions provided in section 21k(2) of the "high court ordinance":