16.—(1) The Panel may, with due regard to the convenience of the parties and prior to commencement of the hearing, alter the date, time or place of any hearing and the Panel must give the parties not less than 14 days notice of any such alteration unless–
(a)a shorter period of notice is agreed by the parties; or
(b)the requirement to alter the date of the hearing is due to the illness of a member of the Panel or other exceptional circumstance which affects the availability of a member of the Panel to attend the hearing.
(2) If the Panel alters the date of the hearing under paragraph (1), that date must not, unless the parties agree, be before the date fixed in terms of rule 8(1).
(3) The Panel may from time to time adjourn the hearing and, if the date, time and place of the adjourned hearing are announced before the adjournment, no further notice shall be required.