Q
ORGANISATION OF COURTS IN HONG KONG
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Х
Following recent new anti-crime legislation in Hong Kong,
the Secretary of State has received representations about the
legislation from Lord Gardiner, Chairman of the Council of
JUSTICE. A delegation, led by Lord Gardiner, also called
recently on Mr Wilford.
2. Some of JUSTICE's earlier points were met by a comprehensive
memorandum by the Attorney General in Hong Kong which has been
passed to the Council. But Lord Gardiner still remains
concerned about the new powers of the District Courts which he
thinks would lower the standard of justice by removing from some
the right to trial by jury, by reducing the incidence of legal
aid, by the absence of a shorthand writer, and by increasing the
backlog of cases.
3. Lord Gardiner has also raised a more general question, in
that he thinks the time has come for a review of the system of
justice in Hong Kong, whether or not preceded by a Commission of
Enquiry from the United Kingdom. He has asked that the attention
of the Secretary of State should be drawn to the view of JUSTICE
that by reason of the high degree of sophistication of Hong Kong,
and its importance as an international commercial and banking
centre, the traditional colonial legal structure is neither
appropriate nor efficient, and that the time has come for an
objective review of all aspects of the administration of justice
in the colony.
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