Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

DRAFT BRIEF 'C'

Type 1 +

تمام

FROM

To:-

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

In Confidence

GLACESSTONG WITH THE GOVERNOR, HOHA Haven WILSCUSSIONS

пона кошел

ORGANISATION OF COURTS IN HONG KONG

1.

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.

Mary 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

noti

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

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