Chapter 8
LEGISLATION
During the year 1953, forty-four Ordinances were enacted, and reference to some of the more important of them is made below. Two pieces of subsidiary legislation reflect the pattern of international events in 1953; in January, by an order under the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, Japan ceased to be enemy territory for the purpose of that Ordinance; and, in . March, the United Nations embargo was carried a stage further by the Control of Trade by Sea (China and North Korea) Order made by the Minister of Transport whereby all British ships over 500 gross tons are required to have licences before proceeding to sea. The licences may specify the cargoes per- mitted to be carried to China and North Korea.
The District Court: Ordinance No. 1 is dealt with more fully under the head Justice, Police and Prisons. It is sufficient to record here that the new court was given the civil jurisdiction formerly exercised by the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction, and criminal jurisdiction to try all but the most serious cases. In the exercise of its criminal jurisdic- tion, the sentence which the Court can impose is limited to one of five years imprisonment. In all cases there is an appeal to the Full Court and the judges sit without a jury. In criminal cases, they are required to place on record a statement of the reasons for the verdict.
Training Centres: Ordinance No. 5 provides another medium for the training and reform of the young offender. In this instance the age group catered for is from 14 to 18 years. The institution is modelled on the Borstal system in Great Britain which is designed for those between the ages of 16 and 21. The difference in age group is attributable to the earlier age of maturity of the Hong Kong boy. Unlike the
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