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RESTRICTED

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intended to protect the rights of others, viz, judgement creditors, Judge Downey considered that jurisdiction was not proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued because

5.

(a)

(b)

(c)

court's

enforcement of the prohibition order might involve

exercising the powers of arrest and imprisonment

in sub-section (7) and (8) of the same section

which would mean further possible impairment of

personal liberty;

the provision, unlike making an order under

subsection 1(b), did not require the presence of

probable cause for believing that the debtor's

departure from Hong Kong may obstruct or delay the

creditor; and

the facts that the granting of order was a matter

for judicial discretion and that it could not

endure for more than 3 months did not offer

adequate safeguards.

In response to the plaintiff's contention that the

power to declare that pre-existing legislation was

repealed could not be invoked in a purely civil disputes

between two private persons in view of s.7 BOR, Judge

Downey held

judicial review Of pre-existing

legislation was

that

a separate and distinct power conferred

upon the courts, and intended to be exercised in every case irrespective of the status or identity of the parties.

6.

the

The Director of Legal Aid who represents

Judgement creditor has lodged an appeal. The hearing was

set down for 11 November 1991.

Chambers

are

proceedings.

inclined not

The Attorney General's

to

get involved in the

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