Li
CONFIDENTIAL
HICK 14/11 Flag A
1973
WICKLY Flag
11
Mr Youde
22/1
Parliamentary Unit
M. Mac Doweld
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION TABLED BY MR ANDREW FAULDS MP:
OF THE LAW IN HONG KONG
1.
MG.
23/1
#4
ADMINISTRATION
Mr Faulds has tabled a Parliamentary Question for Written
Answer to ask the Secretary of State when he expects to be able to
make a statement on the investigation into the way laws are made and
administered in Hong Kong.
2.
The Question suggests that the Secretary of State has
promised such an investigation; but having checked back to 1969,
we are unable to find any PQ, public statement or letter to an MP
which implies such a promise. In a letter to Mr Wilford on
30 August 1973 Lord Gardiner, Chairman of JUSTICE, asked that the
Secretary of State's attention should be drawn to their view 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". Mr Wilford's
reply promised replies on the specific issues raised by JUSTICE;
but on the question of a general review, merely confirmed that the
Council's views had been brought to the attention of the Secretary
of State. We have just received Hong Kong's long delayed comments
on the specific issues and will be submitting a reply to Lord
Gardiner.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.
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