冷
648
strongly inclined to think that Mr. Shepherd's labours though often of a voluntary nature have saved a great deal of trouble and confusion. Whatever the reason
may be it is a matter of surprise to me that since I
have been in the Colony the Government has been almost free from litigation connected with land.
The question of the Attorney General's pri- vate practice depends entirely upon how far his time
is required by the Government. The Bar in Hong Kong practise on the same lines as the Bar in England so that I think there would be no objection on the score
of personal relations with clients.
In connection with the question of one or
two Magistrates, I will only repeat what I said before
the Commission If there is too much work for one
I do not see why provision should not be made for hear-
ing some of the charges involving heavy pecuniary
penalties (e.g. under the Gambling and Opium Ordinances
and under the Merchant Shipping Ordinances) before
the Supreme Court in its Summary Jurisdiction.
There would be the same appeal to the Full
Court, the Crown Solicitor would have audience and the
attendance of the prosecuting police and witnesses would be no practical inconvenience, the Magistrates Court and the Supreme Court being not more than 200
or 300 yards apart.
Sections 96 -98.
A new system of land transfer as recommended would I think necessarily involve great expense.
To
be of any practical use it would I believe have to be
founded on a new Survey.
Section
1
M