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has been delayed by further proposals from Hong Kong. However, we should not delay our response on the narrower issue too long;
and it is one which can satisfactorily be examined on its own.
5.
The Department's legal adviser has ascertained from a Principal Crown Counsel in the Hong Kong Attorney-General's Chambers, who was visiting London, that Hong Kong District Judges exercise jurisdiction as follows:
(a)
Criminal
They may try almost any criminal case except certain serious crimes such as murder and rape. They may award sentences of imprisonment of up to seven years and impose any fine prescribed by law in relation to the crime in question.
(b) Civil
They may exercise civil jurisdiction in any case where the subject matter of the action does not exceed HK$20,000, and also deal with undefended
divorce cases.
He has also discussed the matter with the Lord Chancellor's Office,
who have informally given an opinion:
(a)
(b)
that Hong Kong District Judges are roughly equivalent in status with Circuit Judges in England, who are entitled to the style of "His Honour Judge X";
that by analogy it would not be unreasonable to style Hong Kong District Judges "His Honour Judge X" also; (c) that the Lord Chancellor's Office would have expected
to be consulted on any proposal to this effect which reached us from the Governor; and
(a)
that the Lord Chancellor's Office would probably not have seen any objection.
A copy of the relevant minute by the Department's legal adviser is
attached.
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