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"The establishment of a bilingual common law system is a formidable task. Attempts made in other jurisdictions have met with mixed success. We have no doubt that our measured and pragmatic approach will succeed," Mr Justice Power concluded.
On the judicial establishment, Mr Justice Power said: "Worries have been expressed about the departure of senior judges and judicial officers during the past year and of impending departures in the months leading up to June 30.
"It is clearly a matter of concern prematurely to lose experienced judicial officers but the extent of the loss, about six per cent of the total strength, is well within manageable proportions and we have no doubt that it will be filled by suitable candidates in the coming months."
On the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Justice Power said the conversion of the French Mission Building was almost complete and a working draft of the rules of the court was being finalised.
"We look forward with confidence to the establishment of our final court in the coming months providing for the first time a fully integrated system of courts in Hong Kong," he added.
Commenting on the concept of open justice, Mr Justice Power said there had been some criticisms that some hearings were not open to the public.
He noted that given the criticisms that had been made, working parties had been set up under Mr Justice Nazareth, to examine the civil side, and Mr Justice Stuart- Moore, to examine the criminal side. Their final reports are about to be delivered
"Finally, let me say that open justice is a matter which concerns us all and it is one which will have our continued attention," he said.
On court waiting time, Mr Justice Power said "justice delayed is justice denied" was an old saw but a true one.
Citing London, New York and Sydney as examples, Mr Justice Power said despite that Hong Kong had by far the smallest judicial complement, Hong Kong had waiting times very considerably less than the times in the other three areas.
"With a smaller number of judicial officers we are at almost every level able to bring both civil and criminal matters to a speedier conclusion than is achieved in the other centres. This is so you may be assured because of the dedication and hard work of Hong Kong's judicial officers," Mr Justice Power said.