TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1987
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VIEWS SOUGHT IN CUSTOMARY LAW SUCCESSION
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VIEWS OF INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG, WERE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON THE HIGHLY COMPLEX CUSTOMARY LAW WHICH SUCCESSION TRUSTEESHIPS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF TSOS' AND 'TONGS' ARE BASED, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TONIGHT (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE NEW TERRITORIES LIONS, DR HAYES SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE VILLAGES AND PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TO THE CUSTOMARY LAW,
AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY SET UP UNDER THE CHAIRMANS HIP OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER WOULD BE LOOKING INTO THE REVISION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE THAT DEALS WITH THE CUSTOMARY LAW, DR HAYES SAID.
+THERE IS ALSO A NEED TO ENSURE THAT ANY REVISIONS TO CAP. 97 OF THE ORDINANCE ARE DONE IN THE FULL_KNOWLEDGE OF THE ACTUAL SITUATION AND THE EXTENT OF THE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES.
*WE SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT ANY CHANGES ARE USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE, HE ADDED.
+THE COMPILATION OF MATERIALS ON DECISIONS IN VILLAGES AND CLANS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS MIGHT HELP THOSE WHO DEAL WITH DISPUTES OVER PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE MAJOR CLANS, SAID DR HAYES.
DR HAYES POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR VILLAGES TO REGISTER THEIR SUCCESSION WITH THE AUTHORITIES SO THAT CLAIMS COULD BE DEALT WITH EASILY RATHER THAN TO ALLOW THE SITUATION TO DEVELOP INTO LONG-DRAWN DISPUTES.
+WE ARE NOT CHANGING CUSTOMARY LAW, WE ARE ONLY NOTING CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES HAVING ARISEN IN CONNECTION WITH IT.
+OUR MAIN AIM IS TO REVISE THE ORDINANCE AND TAKE WHATEVER STEPS SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CUSTOMARY LAW, DR HAYES SAID.
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