SECTION 11 THE LAWS

SECRET

4.10

THE PROVISIONS IN SECTION 11 WERE GENERALLY WELCOMED. VIEWS EXPRESSED CONCENTRATED ON :-

4.11

RETENTION OF THE EXISTING LAWS

TRANSLATION OF EXISTING LAWS INTO CHINESE

THE PROVISION IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR THE RETENTION OF EXISTING LAWS WAS GENERALLY WELCOMED. THIS

WAS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG AS

AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND TRADING CENTRE.

4.12

IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT THAT VERY EXTENSIVE

LEGISLATION WOULD BE REQUIRED BEFORE 1997 TO PROVIDE FOR

LOCAL ENACTMENT OF UNITED KINGDOM LAWS WHICH AT PRESENT ARE

EXTENDED TO HONG KONG BY VIRTUE OF ORDERS OF THE PRIVY

COUNCIL. THERE WERE ABOUT 100 SUCH ACTS RELATING TO

COPYRIGHT, MERCHANT SHIPPING, CIVIL AVIATION, NATIONALITY

AND REPATRIATION. CERTAIN SECTIONS OF LAWS IN HONG KONG

WHICH WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, OR

WHICH CARRIED TAINTS OF COLONIALISM'' WOULD HAVE TO BE

AMENDED.

4.13

THERE WERE INCREASING CALLS FOR THE EARLY

COMPLETION OF THE TRANSLATION OF THE PRESENT LAWS INTO

CHINESE, AND FOR ALL NEW LAWS FROM NOW ON TO BE DRAFTED

BILINGUALLY.

4.14

OTHER POINTS RAISED INCLUDED SUGGESTIONS

ON THE TRAINING OF MORE LOCAL LAWYERS:

THAT THE PRESENT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONCEPTS

FOR EXAMPLE, THE RIGHT OF HABEAS CORPUS FOR THE

PROTECTION OF PERSONAL FREEDOM OF CITIZENS

BE PRESERVED IN THE LAWS OF THE SAR: AND

-

-

MUST

THAT THE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC BE

ENHANCED.

SECTION 11 JUDICIAL SYSTEM

4.15

REACTION TO THE PROVISIONS IN THIS SECTION WAS

GENERALLY FAVOURABLE. VIEWS EXPRESSED CONCENTRATED MAINLY

ON

INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY

APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES

SECRET-30-

:

LUSE.

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