of 286 persons indicted at the Criminal Sessions 261 were con- victed, are being tried in January, 1949, the correspond-
5 ing figures for the year 1947 being 366 and 277. Appeals against conviction or sentence at Criminal Sessions rose from II to 41 and appeals against magisterial decisions were the same as last year-24.
Of 22 appeals in respect of Civil Actions (com- pared again with 17 in 1947) 17 were heard, I settled and 3 abandoned; I is pending. There were 42 appeals against the decisions of the Tenancy Tribunals of which 25 were heard (28 in 1947); 2 actions were filed in the Admiralty Jurisdiction and 16 Petitions in the Divorce Jurisdiction (1947: 8 and 32 respectively). Eight Trust Estates were in the hands of the Official Trustee at the end of the year. The estates of 41 deceased persons were taken into custody of the Official Administrator (32 in 1947) and the administration of 60 was completed. 215 Hong Kong Companies and 57 foreign corporations were registered and 10 Hong Kong companies were dissolved during the year bringing the total number of Hong Kong companies on the Register to 1891 (1686 at the end of 1947) and the total number of registered foreign corporations to 459 (418 at the end of 1947). The number of foreign corporations which were removed from the register during the year was 16. 141 Bills of Sale were registered during the year of which 43 were satisfied. (In 1947 the number of Bills of Sale registered was 128).
During the year 1948, 464 cases were heard before Tenancy Tribunals by no less than 141 persons on the panel, comprising 5 barristers 14 solictors, 101 non-professional men and 21 women.
The Lower Courts.
There are three magistrates' courts on the Island and two in Kowloon. The latter hear cases from the whole mainland area south of the Kowloon Hills and from the harbour. An innovation was instituted during the year with the appointment on 12th October, 1948, of a new court known as the Justices' court which is composed of two unofficial Justices of the Peace sitting together, one of whom is a solicitor. This court has proved a success and is of great value in relieving the Magistrates of a good deal of work.
Civil jurisdiction in the New Territories is exercised by the District Commissioner and his District Officers, who have powers similar to the Supreme Court. Most of the litigation concerns land, in which the number of disputes is particularly heavy in the Taipo District. The District Officers Yuen Long and Taipo sit each three days a week, on alternate days, as Magistrates. They also hear debts cases.
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