18
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982
SEVEN BILLS PASSED
***
SEVEN BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THEY ARE THE COMMODITIES TRADING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) BILL 1982, THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 AND THE BUILDING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
THE FOLLOWING TWO BILLS WERE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL 1982 AND THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL
****
A BILL SEEK ING TO EXTEND THE POWERS IN THE SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE TO MAKE RULES WITH REGARD TO A PAYMENT-INTO-COURT PROCEDURE IN CONNECTION WITH ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, MR NAZARETH RECALLED THAT THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 WAS PASSED IN MARCH THIS YEAR, GIVING LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION ON THE SUBJECT OF COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION.
HOWEVER, BEFORE THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE CAN BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION, AND RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION IMPLEMENTED, CERTAIN CONSEQUENTIAL AND ENABLING AMENDMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE TO THE SUPREME COURT RULES.
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE PROVISION IN ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS OF A PAYMENT-INTO-COURT PROCEDURE, A STANDARD PROCEDURE WHICH ENABLES A DEFENDANT IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TO MAKE A PAYMENT INTO COURT.
MR NAZARETH SAID RULES TO PROVIDE THIS PROCEDURE HAD BEEN DRAFTED AND IF THE BILL WAS PASSED. THE RULES WOULD BE MADE WITHOUT DELAY, WITH A VIEW TO EARLY INTRODUCTION OF THE ADVANTAGES HONG KONG WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER AS AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
19