I have followed local
in common law countries can be assumed.
discussion and read about Hong Kong systems in order to see the structures and functions of the various elements of the Judiciary and of the Courts and Tribunals, assess strengths and weaknesses and
recommend basic improvements to ensure continued or improved
effectiveness and improved efficiency.
14.
I
During
Whilst making an exploratory visit to Hong Kong in January 1986 six months before the commencement of the study I was invited to select data for statistical collation; a resulting programme began in
the following month. There was thus a wealth of numerical information
awaiting me in July. That exercise has been continued and enlarged and the resulting tables of statistics are to be found in the Appendix. also read a good many other numerical and descriptive papers. the first three months I visited all the courts and tribunals in the
Territory and saw each Justice of Appeal and High Court Judge individually. I also saw most of the District Judges and Magistrates and Judicial Officers of the Supreme Court Registry and of Tribunals. I saw representatives of the staff of the Judiciary in the grades of Bailiff, Court Reporter, Interpreter, Judicial Clerk and in the General Grades. I met several members of the Bar and representatives of the Law Society and had a number of discussions in the Attorney-General's Chambers, the Civil Service Branch, Finance Branch and the Government Data Processing Agency. I have been in correspondence with many of those mentioned above and with others in Hong Kong and with experts
overseas.
15.
From these discussions and my reading I derived an abundance of data and a wealth of opinion which I studied and analysed at some length until I narrowed the next stage of consultation to these key issues :-
16 -