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. Towards the end of 1949 a third magistrate assisted in Kowloon.
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.
Cases Heard in the Lower Courts
The figures below show the penalties which were awarded at the Hong Kong and Kowloon Magistracies in respect of cases heard during the whole year 1949. Corresponding totals for the year 1948 are also given.
Total
Total
for
for
Prosecutions against adults Prosecutions against juveniles
Convictions against adults
Convictions against juveniles
Hong Kong Kowloon 1949
54,147 49,130) 30,623 13,021) 49,570 43,312 30,057 11,356
1948
146,921 133,001
134,295 120,893
Adult Offenders
Fined
40,203 34,233 74,436 63,598
Imprisoned in default of payment of fine
5,025
8,053
13,078
19,771
Imprisoned without option
1,950
2,422
4,372
5,353
Bound over
452
503
955
1,123
Cautioned or discharged
4,033
5,200
9,233
8,641
Defendants fined and allowed time to
pay fine
655
540
1,195
425
Deported from the Colony
479
537
1,016
Expelled from the Colony
1,197
549
1,746 1,780
Juvenile Offenders
Fined
27,852
7,683
35,535 22,505
Sent to Reformatory
15
15
30
57
Committed to approved institutions
5
16
21
70
Bound over
144
162
306
408
Placed on probation
39
8
47
21
Cautioned or discharged
422
1,502
1,924
2,272
Whipped
1,195
3,172
4,367
4,531
Imprisoned
75
91
166
477
Deported from the Colony
25
78
103
Expelled from the Colony
851
315
1,166
1,339
Maintenance Cases
Order made
10
18
21
93