+
9
ON
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1984
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 21 AND TO GO THROUGH THE REMAINING LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON DECEMBER 5.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE IR PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 7TH FLOOR, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
-
BILL AIMS TO REDUCE COURT TIME
****
A BILL SEEKING TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES IN INDICTABLE OFFENCES IN MAGISTRATES COURTS, IN WHICH THE EVIDENCE IS RECORDED IN SHORTHAND, IS GAZETTED TODAY.
THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL SEEKS TO CHANGE THE PRESENT PROCEDURE, WHICH REQUIRES THE READING BACK OF THE TRANSCRIPT OF EVIDENCE IN COURT, BY ALLOWING THE WITNESS TO READ HIS EVIDENCE SEPARATELY FROM THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT UNDER THE NEW PROCEDURE, WITNESSES WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO CONFIRM ON OATH THE ACCURACY OF THE TRANSCRIPT.
+THE IMPETUS FOR THE BILL IS PROVIDED BY A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY IN WHICH, SOME ESTIMATES SAY, THE HEARING OF EVIDENCE WILL TAKE ABOUT 14 WEEKS. AN ADDITIONAL SIX WEEKS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO READ THE RECORD ALOUD IN COURT, HE SAID.
+IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED TO SHORTEN THIS HEARING AND TO ALLOW THE EARLY RELEASE OF WITNESSES FROM OVERSEAS. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS PROPOSED THAT AN ELEMENT OF RETROACTIVE EFFECT BE INCLUDED IN THE BILL TO APPLY IT TO THOSE CONTINUING PROCEEDINGS AS WELL AS FUTURE PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES.
+ALL COUNSEL REPRESENTING THE PARTIES IN THAT CASE HAVE STATED IN OPEN COURT THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME THE NEW PROCEDURE AND BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE NO PREJUDICE.
+TO ENABLE THE NEW PROCEDURE TO BE USED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IT IS INTENDED TO PRESENT THIS BILL TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR ITS FIRST READING ON NOVEMBER 21 AND TO SEEK THE TAKING OF THE OTHER LEGISLATIVE STAGES AT THE SAME SITTING, HE SAID.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE BILL MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
/10
Page 10Page 11