WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1985
GOVT SUPPORTS APPOINTMENT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ******
THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE MOTION BY THE SENIOR UNOFFICI AL MEMBER, THE HON SIR ROGER LOBO, FOR APPOINTMENT OF A SELECT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCI AL CRIMES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY.
THE RECENT CONTROVERSY OVER THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL HAD TAKEN MANY BY SURPRISE, BUT OUT OF IT HAD COME A VARIETY OF SUGGESTIONS, FROM OPPONENTS AND FROM SUPPORTERS ALIKE, TRYING TO FIND WAYS OF EASING THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTED, HE SAID.
+ ALL OF THEM DESERVE TO BE CALMLY AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. AND THEREFORE WELCOME THE APPOINTMENT OF A SELECT COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT WILL AFFORD BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL MORE TIME TO FIND THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD IN A DIFFICULT AREA, MR THOMAS SAID.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SPEECH:
+1 WELCOME THE MOTION MOVED BY SIR ROGER LOBO AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE IT ITS SUPPORT.
+IT IS, SIR, PART OF MY DUTY, AS I CONCEIVE IT, TO FORMULATE AND PROPOSE CHANGES IN THE LAW WHERE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROSECUTION AND TRI AL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES DO SEEM TO ME TO RAISE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. AND AS MR PETER C. WONG HAS JUST TOLD THIS COUNCIL, ALL THE REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED BY HIS AD HOC GROUP HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PROBLEMS EXIST.
+SO IT WAS THAT THE TRI AL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL CAME FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, BUT SINCE I ROSE TO MOVE ITS SECOND READING, THE SUPPORT WHICH THE PROPOSALS ORIGINALLY APPEARED TO ENJOY HAS FADED. OPPOSITION TO THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL HAS BEEN MADE UP OF VARIOUS STRANDS OF OPINION AS WE HAVE JUST HEARD. SOME ARE OPPOSED TO ANY DEPARTURE FROM TRIAL BY JURY. SOME PREFER TO RESERVE THEIR POSITION AND WANT MORE TIME TO REFLECT, AND ABSORB ROSKILL. SOME GO ALONG WITH THE MAIN THRUST OF THE BILL BUT SAY. FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE TRI BUN AL SHOULD GIVE REASONS FOR ITS VERDICT.
+SIR, MY PERSONAL BELIEF AND THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW - IS THAT THERE IS MUCH MERIT IN THE BILL'S PROPOSALS FOR THE OPTINAL MODE OF TRIAL BY JUDGE AND ADJUDICATORS IN BOTH THE HIGH COURT AND THE DISTRICT COURT. BUT THAT IS NO LONGER THE POINT.
/+AS ATTORNEY .............