MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1990
NEEDS AND
MR MATHEWS SAID ALL JUDGES AND LAWYERS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY 1N ENSURING THAT THE LAW AND ITS ADMINISTRATION MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
THOSE WHO ADMINISTER THE LEGAL SYSTEM MUST BE EVER KEEP THE LEGAL SYSTEM UNDER REVIEW AND TO PROPOSE CHANGES. "SOME OF THE CHANGES WE HAVE MADE. AND PROPOSE ΤΟ MAKE, MAJOR CHANGES IN APPROACH. OTHERS ARE SIMPLY FINE-TUNING.
"
ALERT ΤΟ HE SAID. REPRESENT
HE CITED THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL. WHICH PROPOSED MINOR AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING ORDINANCES, SUCH AS WITNESSES ALLOWANCES AND AMENDING INDICTMENTS, A FINE TUNING PROCESS.
AS
ON MAJOR CHANGES. MR MATHEWS SAID 'CHAT TWO IMPORTANT ORDINANCES THAT WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM WERE ENACTED LAST YEAR.
FIRST WAS THE DRUG TRAFFICKING (RECOVERY OF PROCEEDS) ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE PERMITS THE TRACING, FREEZING AND SEIZURE OF THE ASSETS OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS. IN ADDITION IT ESTABLISHES PROCEDURES WHEREBY FOREIGN ORDERS IN RELATION TO CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING MAY BE ENFORCED HERE.
"THROUGH THE ENACTMENT OF THIS LAW. WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO ERADICATE THIS HORRIFYING INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM, HE SAID.
SECOND. ARBITRATION AMENDMENTS WERE MADE ΤΟ THE ARBITRATION ORDINANCE TO INCORPORATE THE MODEL LAW DEVELOPED BY NATIONS COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW.
THE UNITED
"THE ADOPTION OF THIS LAW WILL GREATLY STRENGTHEN THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE AND WILL ENSURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CENTRE IN THE PACIFIC REGION IN WHICH TO CONDUCT INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATIONS.
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MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT THE TASK OF CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THE LAW IS A NEVER-ENDING AND CHALLENGING ONE.
AS COMMUNITY ATTITUDES CHANGE SO MUST THE LAW AND THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES.
"AS LAWYERS WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE KEEP PACE
I AM SURE WE
CAN.
ΤΟ
"WHILE THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE BE A SOURCE OF IDEAS FOR THIS PROCESS, THE NEED FOR ALL OF US IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION TO CONTRIBUTE REMAINS.
"EVERY ONE OF US OWES IT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IDEAS WHETHER THE TINIEST REFINEMENT OR THE VISTA OF A FUNDAMENTAL AND NEW APPROACH TO A PROBLEM." MR MATHEWS SAID.
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