CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

239

The highest court in Hong Kong is the Full Court, which sits when required and is composed of two or three judges of the Supreme Court as the Chief Justice directs. The Chief Justice usually presides over this court, which hears appeals from the Supreme Court and the District Court and has jurisdiction corresponding roughly to that of the Court of Appeal in England. Appeals may be brought from the Full Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.

Legal aid in both civil and criminal matters is administered by the Director of Legal Aid under the aegis of the Judiciary.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

The foreign relations of the Administration of Hong Kong are the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, but in the sphere of external trade a considerable degree of latitude is in practice permitted to the Hong Kong Government and Hong Kong's dependence on external trade makes it necessary for the Hong Kong Government to maintain offices in London, Washington, Geneva and Brussels to deal with commercial rela- tions.

LONDON OFFICE

During the year, the various Hong Kong Government Agencies in Britain were brought together and co-ordinated within one organisation under the control of a senior officer whose official title is the Administrative Commissioner for the Government of Hong Kong in London. This senior officer will provide a point of direct contact in London between Hong Kong and various departments of the British Government. Since the new organisation is a projection of the Hong Kong Government in London, it is now part of the Colonial Secretariat and the Administrative Commissioner is directly responsible to the Colonial Secretary.

The reorganised London Office remains at 54 Pall Mall and continues to keep British commercial, economic and industrial developments and official thinking on world-wide trade policies under review and to advise the Hong Kong Government of the likely repercussions of these developments on Hong Kong. The office will also continue to operate its already well-developed

Share This Page