CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8] — Page 423

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Au

cent to Hong-Kong is not so suitable for holiday making at

that time of the year as it is a little later, and, probably,

the public may have felt the closing of the Courts for two

consecutive months to be undesirable.

I can find no record,however, showing that the

barristers and solicitors of the Colony were consulted before

the former vacation was abolished, and there has been recently

expressed an almost unanimous desire on the part of both

branches of the profession that legal vacations should be re-

established in the Supreme Court. That desire was strongly

brought to the notice of the Government and the present Ordi-

nance was introduced accordingly.Before doing so, the Judges

were consulted and the Ordinance was modified in accordance

with their suggestions. The long vacation is of only four weeks

duration, and it will be observed that due provision has been

made for the regular and prompt despatch of Criminal business

and of all urgent matters in the Supreme Court as well as of

suits in the Summary Jurisdiction. There is no reason to sup-

pose that the passing of this Ordinance will prejudicially

affect the interests either of suitors or of the general

public.

(Sd.) W.MEIGH GOODMAN,

Attorney General.

P.S. The commencement of the Ordinance is delayed

till 1st.December, 1898, so as to prevent any hardship to liti-

gants