CO129-029 - Bonham - 1849 [4-7] — Page 24

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

T4

to move a stop without: the acceptance of Attorneys, and these exactions certainly appear to be very heavy. On this subject, however, I must refer Your Lordships to my Despatch already quoted, remarking that at Hongkong there are also, as there are no Barristers, only two Attorneys, who are permitted to practise as Advocates. The proceedings of these gentlemen are in that all cases where the amount in dispute did not exceed in value $500 might be disposed of without their assistance; and that in cases where parties saw fit to require their aid, the precise amount of fees that they could legally demand, should be defined and generally known in consequence not subject to that wholesome supervision and control that they would be at home, where they become open to the inspection of an enlightened Bar.

Having had very considerable experience in judicial matters in the Straits of Malacca, I knew that not one half of the cases that came before the Courts there were conducted by Attorneys, and it therefore appeared to me that at all events it would be desirable so to alter the practice here, and be made simple.

From a Return furnished by the Supreme Court, I found that during the six months ending the 31st December last, 48 actions had been commenced, of which 19 (being about 40 per cent) were for amounts under $500; and that 67 per cent of cases where the amount in dispute did not exceed $100 had been disposed of. These latter are decided before the Judge without a Jury, and it appeared to me that if the Summary Jurisdiction was extended to $500, and the actions tried in the same manner,

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T4 to move a stop without: the acceptance of Attorneys, and these exactions certainly appear to be very heavy. On this subject, however, I must refer Your Lordships to my Despatch already quoted, remarking that at Hongkong there are also, as there are no Barristers, only two Attorneys, who are permitted to practise as Advocates. The proceedings of these gentlemen are in that all cases where the amount in dispute did not exceed in value $500 might be disposed of without their assistance; and that in cases where parties saw fit to require their aid, the precise amount of fees that they could legally demand, should be defined and generally known in consequence not subject to that wholesome supervision and control that they would be at home, where they become open to the inspection of an enlightened Bar. Having had very considerable experience in judicial matters in the Straits of Malacca, I knew that not one half of the cases that came before the Courts there were conducted by Attorneys, and it therefore appeared to me that at all events it would be desirable so to alter the practice here, and be made simple. From a Return furnished by the Supreme Court, I found that during the six months ending the 31st December last, 48 actions had been commenced, of which 19 (being about 40 per cent) were for amounts under $500; and that 67 per cent of cases where the amount in dispute did not exceed $100 had been disposed of. These latter are decided before the Judge without a Jury, and it appeared to me that if the Summary Jurisdiction was extended to $500, and the actions tried in the same manner,
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T4 to move a stop without : the asprctance of Altermeys, and these the exactions certainly appear to heavy. On this On this subject, however me to be very I must refer Your Lordships to my Despatch aber quoted, remarking that at Hongkong there also, as there a.s are arc no to practise these gentleman but two Attorneys, who · Barristers, are permitted_ Advocates. The proceedings of are in h. 22 that all cases where the amount in dispute did not ericced in value. $500 might in like manner. be disposed of without their assistance; and that in cases where parties saw fit to require their aid, the precise - amount of fees that they could. bgally demand, should be defined, generally known consequence not subject 6 Yo. 2. to that wholesome supervision and control that they would be at home, where they become open- Bar 5. to the inspection of an enlightened Having had very considerable. experience in judicial matters in the Straits of Malacca, I knew that not one- the cases that care were half of before the Courts there conducted by Attorneys, appeared to mo and it therefore that at all events it would be desirable so to alter the practice here, · and be made From a Return furnished by the Supreme Court, I found that during months ending the b December last, 48 actions had ben commenced, of which 19, (being about 40 ou per cent $500; and the whole), that 67 Avere for cases under 02020 cases where the amcount in dispute did not. erpeeed. $100, had and it been disposed of. These latter are decided. before the Judge without a Jury, appeared to me that if the Summary Jurisdiction was extended to $500, and. the actions tried in the same- simple. manner,
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T4

to move a stop without : the asprctance of Altermeys, and these the exactions certainly appear to

heavy. On this

On this subject, however

me to be very

I must refer Your Lordships to my

Despatch aber quoted, remarking that at Hongkong there

also, as there

a.s

are

arc no

to practise these gentleman

but two Attorneys, who

· Barristers, are permitted_

Advocates. The proceedings of

are in

h.

22

that all cases where the amount in dispute

did not ericced in value. $500

might

in

like manner.

be disposed of without their

assistance; and that in cases where parties

saw

fit to require their aid, the precise - amount of fees that they could. bgally demand, should be defined,

generally known

consequence

not subject

6

Yo. 2.

to that wholesome supervision and control

that they would be at home, where they

become

open-

Bar

5.

to the inspection of an enlightened

Having

had

very

considerable.

experience in judicial matters in the Straits

of Malacca, I knew that not one-

the cases that

care

were

half of

before the Courts there

conducted by Attorneys,

appeared to mo

and it therefore

that at all events it

would be desirable so to alter the practice here,

·

and be made

From a Return furnished by the Supreme Court, I found that during

months ending

the b

December last, 48 actions had

ben commenced, of which 19, (being about 40

ou

per cent $500; and

the whole),

that

67

Avere

for

cases under

02020

cases where the

amcount in dispute did not. erpeeed. $100, had

and it

been disposed of. These latter are decided. before the Judge without a Jury, appeared to me that if the Summary

Jurisdiction

was extended to $500, and.

the actions tried in the same-

simple.

manner,

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