Amendment
of Schedule.
Consequen- tial amend- ment.
(Cap. 25.)
2
(d) any other court not specified in the Schedule,
shall be conducted in the English language.
(3) Nothing in this section affects the right of any party to or witness in proceedings in any court to use such language as he may wish.
6. The Governor in Council may, by order published in the Gazette, amend the Schedule.
7. Section 19 of the Labour Tribunal Ordinance is amended by the deletion of subsection (1).
SCHEDULE
[s. 5(2).]
COURTS IN WHICH Proceedings may be Conducted in either THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE OR THE CHINESE Language
Magistrates' Courts.
1.
2.
Any inquiry by a coroner.
3.
Any Juvenile Court.
4.
Any Labour Tribunal.
5. Any Tenancy Tribunal.
Explanatory Memorandum
This Bill affirms that English and Chinese are the official languages of Hong Kong for communication between the Govern- ment and members of the public.
Clause 3 provides accordingly and confers on these languages equal status and equality of use.
Clauses 4 and 5 make exceptions as to the use of Chinese in legislation and in the courts. Clause 4 provides that legislation will continue to be enacted and published in English. Clause 5 enables proceedings in the courts specified in the Schedule to be conducted in either English or Chinese in the discretion of the court. Proceedings in other courts will continue to be con- ducted in English. Nothing in clause 5 affects the right of parties or witnesses to use the language of their choice.
J. W. D. HOBLEY, Attorney General.