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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1978
EXPANSION OF DISTRICT COURT JURISDICTION
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO CONSIDER THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE DISTRICT COURT TO ENABLE IT TO DEAL WITH PROCEEDINGS OF ANNUAL RENT, RATEABLE VALUE OR ANNUAL VALUE OF UP TO $15,000.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, STATED THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HENRY HU.
AT PRESENT UNDER THE PARTITION ORDINANCE, THE DISTRICT COURT DEALS WITH PROCEEDINGS WHERE THE ANNUAL RENT, RATEABLE VALUE OR ANNUAL VALUE DOES NOT EXCEED $5,000.
MARRIAGE REGISTRIES
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS SAID TODAY THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER OPENING MORE MARRIAGE REGISTRIES ON SUNDAYS IF THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DEMAND TO JUSTIFY IT.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM THE HON. ALEX WU WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONS IDER KEEPING A MARRIAGE REGISTRY BOTH IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES OPEN ON SUNDAY MORNINGS IN VIEW OF THE GROWING POPULATION AND THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR THIS SERVICE IN THESE AREAS.
AVERAGE TIME FOR ISSUE OF TRAFFIC OFFENCE SUMMONS ******
THE AVERAGE PERIOD BETWEEN THE DATE OF A NON-FIXED PENALTY TRAFFIC OFFENCE AND THE ISSUE OF A SUMMONS WAS ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY SAID TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HOBLEY SAID ACCORDING TO CURRENT FIGURES PROVIDED BY THE POLICE, THE AVERAGE PERIOD BETWEEN THE DATE OF SUCH OFFENCE AND THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF A DEFENDANT IN A MAGISTRATE'S COURT WAS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE AVERAGE PERIOD BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE DATE FIXED FOR THE HEARING WHEN PROCEEDINGS ARE DEFENDED IS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS.
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