LEGAL ADVISER'S REPORT.
QUARTERLY REVIEW
Period 1st September 30th November, 1945.
I attach herewith copies of reports covering:
a) the Judicial section;
b) the Summary Military Court, Kowloon;
-
c) the Registry section Gazette publication; d) the Staff, Probate, Companies etc.sections; e) Land Office and Registry of Marriages
sections;
f) Custodian of Property and Enemy Property
sections;
g) Japanese legislation and investigation
sections;
h) Memorandum on the necessity of reconstituting
Civil Courts;
and
Legal Adviser's Report on:-
i) Moratorium (Amendment)
j) Custodian (Amendment)
k) Enemy Property (Amendment) and
1) Gazette copies.
I propose to summarise the more important points made in the above reports and also to deal with other matters which are not made the subject of a special report.
LAW AND ORDER.
While thefts from the godowns and looting still continue, and while Military guards still find it necessary on occasions to discharge their fire-arms, the territory pre- sents a normal aspect, and there has been no riot or mass demonstration. Armed robbery gives some cause for alarm and it is proposed to press for severer sentences. At the same time it must be remembered that, even in peace time, there were not infrequent occurences of this nature.
COURTS.
Only 9 cases to date have been considered of suffi- cient importance to warrant a General Court, and in no case has a sentence exceeding 5 years yet been passed. Apart from Renegade and Quisling cases there are no serious arrears: the Court at Kowloon having disposed of 328 cases while that at Victoria disposed of 390 cases. It is a tribute to Lt. Nigel that he has been sitting alone at Kowloon while, until recently, both Mr. Leo D'Almada and Mr. Kwan have been available at Victoria. It is now proposed that Mr. Arculli who has been recently appointed, should allot his time between Victoria and
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