CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8] — Page 246

ΟΡΥ.

Enclosure 1.

Sir,

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Chambers, Courts of Justice, Hongkong, 25th. June, 1913.

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I have the honour in accordance with Yours 15 Excellency's request to offer some remarks on the working of the

New Appeal Court Scheme.

2.

I forward a statement showing the number of appeals heard during the January and June sessions and the duration

of the two sessions.

The scheme in my opinion has so far worked successfully and effectively. There are however certain drawbacks and possible eventualities which I think I ought not to pass over unnoticed, and which I will refer to later.

3.

In the first place the forecast arrived at by Mr. Justice Gompertz and myself that two periods in the year of 14 whole working days ought approximately to suffice appears to be verified in so far as the first two sessions are concerned. From

the accompanying statement it appears that the January sessions lasted 15 days, the Court sitting de die in diem, and as a fact one case which was not urgent had to stand over to the June session. The June session lasted 54 days.

4.

The original scheme contemplated two half year- -ly visits from Sir Havilland de Sausmarez and although the Ordi- -nance (27 of 1912) advisedly made no provision for dates of the sittings it being considered better to leave it for arrangement between the Judges it was understood that the sessions should be held some time in the months of January and July. For this reason the law was amended by Ordinance 33 of 1912 so as to leave the months of January and July free from the holding of Criminal Sessions. Owing to the fact that Sir Havilland de Sausmarez is going on leave in July this year I fixed the second sitting of the

Appeal