COPY.
Sir,
Enclosure
1.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
27754
RECEIVED 19 AUG 09
Hongkong, 5th May, 1909.
I have the honour to ask you to be good enough to place before His Excellency the Governor the following statement:-
My Committee are in receipt of information which convinces them that in some respects the present Code of Civil Procedure is very unsatisfactory to the Mercantile Community of this Colony, and they are of opinion that it would give great satisfaction if it were amended.
I refer particularly to Sections 289 to 291 which confer on the Judge of the Supreme Court the right to exercise sole discretion in the matter of allowing or refusing an application for trial by Jury. My Committee desire to submit to His Excellency the Governor that there is a very strong feeling in the Colony that it is desirable to revert to the old practice prevailing under Ordinance No. 13 of 1873, whereby either party was entitled as of right to have an action tried by a Jury.
I am directed to enclose the draft of a suggested Bill for the amendment of the Code of Civil Procedure and to state that it is the earnest hope of this Chamber that His Excellency the Governor may find it convenient to include this Bill as a Government measure at an early date.
I have etc.,
(sd.) F. A. M. Williams,
Secretary,
Honourable Mr. P. H. May,
C.M.G., Colonial Secretary.