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Mr President, the Bill sets out a fair and coherent set of principles governing the award of costs in criminal proceedings. It arms the courts with the power to prevent persons from suffering losses and expenses as a result of unjustifiable conduct on the part of lawyers. The Bill makes significant improvements to the administration of criminal justice and I commend it to this Council.
End/Thursday, November 2, 1995
Lands Tribunal Bill
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in moving the second reading of the Lands Tribunal (Amendment) Bill in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):
Mr President,
I move the second reading of the Lands Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 1995.
The Bill seeks to provide the Lands Tribunal with express jurisdiction under section 8(7) of the Lands Tribunal Ordinance (Cap. 17) to make orders for vacant possession, founded on the termination of tenancies, by notices of termination served pursuant to Part IV or V of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7).
Under the Bill, the Lands Tribunal is to be regarded as always having had this jurisdiction. This is to overcome the decision of the Court of Appeal in a civil appeal case in 1993 which held that the Lands Tribunal did not have such jurisdiction. Prior to this decision, the Lands Tribunal was believed to possess such jurisdiction.
We also take the opportunity to amend the Lands Tribunal Ordinance (Cap. 17) to reflect the current position on the appointment of members of the Lands Tribunal.
Mr President, with these remarks, I commend the Bill to Honourable Members for favourable consideration.
Thank you, Mr President.
End/Thursday, November 2, 1995