WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1983
20
DISTRICT COURTS' MONETARY LIMITS RAISED
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A MOTION WAS APPROVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO INCREASE THE MONETARY LIMITS ON CLAIMS THAT CAN BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN THE DISTRICT COURT.
THE NEW LIMITS WILL COVER CASES INVOLVING UP TO $60 000 IN ACTIONS IN CONTRACT AND TORT AND $45 000 RATEABLE VALUE IN RELATION TO DISPUTES ABOUT LAND.
MOVING THE RESOLUTION THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID THAT THE EXISTING LIMITS OF $40 000 AND $30 000 RESPECTIVELY WERE SET BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) ORDINANCE 1981. THIS ORDINANCE GAVE EFFECT TO RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN 1979 BY A WORKING PARTY CHAIRED BY MR JUSTICE SILKE.
THE PARTY, HAD IN FACT, RECOMMENDED LIMITS OF $50 000 AND $40 000, BUT FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, THE EXISTING LIMITS WERE INTRODUCED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1983.
ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BEEN SET COMPARATIVELY RECENTLY, SAID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THERE WERE TWO REASONS FOR THEIR REVISION.
FIRSTLY INFLATION SINCE 1979, WHEN THE WORKING PARTY REPORTED, MEANT THAT THE CURRENT LIMITS WERE, IN FACT, MUCH LESS IN REAL TERMS THAN THE GROUP ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
SECONDLY, PRESSURE ON THE HIGH COURT WOULD BE EASED BY TRANSFERRING SOME OF THE MINOR CLAIMS TO THE DISTRICT COURT WHERE THERE IS SOME SPARE CAPACITY.
AN ADDED BENEFIT WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN COSTS AND DELAYS IN LITIGATION, SINCE THE DISTRICT COURT PROCEDURES ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE SPÉEDIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
MR THOMAS SAID THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAD PROPOSED THE INCREASE IN LIMITS, TO $60 000 AND $45 000, AND THAT THESE WERE NO HIGHER IN REAL TERMS THAN THOSE RECOMMENDED FOUR YEARS AGO. THE LAW SOCIETY AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION BOTH SUPPORTED THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DISTRICT COURT, HE SAID.
300 000 VISIT JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE
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THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE HAS ATTRACTED SOME 300 000 VISITS FROM HONG KONG SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN, SAID THE HON DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, IN TABLING THE CENTRE'S 1982/83 ANNUAL REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR BRAY SAID THAT AS WELL AS CATERING FOR TOP SPORTSMEN, THE CENTRE HAS INAUGURATED SEVERAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND HAS HOSTED A SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.
/+THE USE