DISTRICT COURTS
Reference.....
(a)
These are almost entirely promoted magistrates but some come from the DPP's Office in Hong Kong. Few have ever appeared in court except to prosecute, and some have not done even that;
(b) only limited legal aid is available in District Courts;
(c) a short summary of the case against a person accused before a District Court is supplied under an unofficial agreement, but there is nothing like the depositions in England;
(d) a person accused before a District Court has no right of election to be tried by judge and jury;
(e) if the Hong Kong Government think sentencing powers of District Courts inadequate, power could be given to commit to Supreme Court for sentence;
(£) provision should be made for criminal trials in District Courts to be with a jury;
(8)
provision should be made for a shorthand note or the mechanical recording of such proceedings;
(h) no person should be appointed a District Judge without at least 12 months' experience of non-criminal work in chambers in England or at least 12 months on a course on non-criminal work;
(i) persons appointed from outside the Service as District Judges should be treated as if their years of call were years of service for purposes of pay, allowances, leave and pension;
(j) annual reports on District Judges should be abolished;
(k)
Judges;
establishment regulations should not apply to District
(1) District Judges should not be employed on contract;
(m)
weeks;
District Judges reserve their judgments for days or even
(n) District Judges should be styled "His Honour Judge X" and given a place in the table of precedence;
(0) District Judges (like magistrates) are subject to the moral pressures of annual reports and the promotion system;
(p) the retirement age of District Judges is now 55 and they give an undertaking not to practice after retirement - the retirement age should be raised to 62.
(q) appointments should be made without regard to seniority or years of service.