XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981

MONETARY JURISDICTION INCREASED

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A BILL WHICH WILL ALSO INCREASE THE MONETARY JURISDICTION OF THE DISTRICT COURT FROM $20 000 TO $40 000 AND OF THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL FROM $3 000 TO $5 000, WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE INCREASES WILL MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO IN VIEW OF THE DEPRECIATION OF MONEY IT WAS STATED BY THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, MR G. P. NAZARETH, WHEN HE MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1981,

TO FACILITATE FUTURE AMENDMENTS OF THESE MONETARY LIMITS, THE BILL ALSO EMPOWERS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO AMEND BY RESOLUTION THE MONETARY LIMIT IN THE DISTRICT COURT ORDINANCE AND THEREBY IN OTHER ORDINANCES.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT PROPOSAL IS THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO THE DISTRICT COURT IN MATTERS OF MERCHANT SHIPPING, MATRIMONIAL DISPUTES, RELIEF AND PROPERTY, AND OF LEGITIMACY AND ADOPTION SO AS TO SAVE COSTS AND TIME, AND RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON THE SUPREME COURT.

SPECIAL PROVISION IS NECESSARY FOR THE TRANSFER OF MATRIMONIAL CAUSES AND OTHER PROCEEDINGS TO THE SUPREME COURT ON APPLICATION OR AT THE INSTANCE OF THE DISTRICT COURT, FOR LEGITIMACY PROCEEDINGS TO BE TAKEN, AND FOR OPPOSED ADOPTION MATTERS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT.

THE BILL ALSO MAKES PROVISION FOR THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO FIX THE RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON JUDGMENT DEBTS BY NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR AN ADDITIONAL APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL IF A DECISION OF THE HIGH COURT IN A MATTER UNDER THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL ORDINANCE OR THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ORDINANCE INVOLVES A QUESTION OF LAW OF GENERAL PUBLIC IMPORTANCE, HE SAID.

PRIVATE HIRE-CAR PERMITS

SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS IN APRIL THIS YEAR, 1 184 PRIVATE HIRE-CAR PERMITS HAD BEEN ISSUED, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON F.K. HU, MR ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID DURING THE PERIOD. 3 381 APPLICATIONS FOR SÚCH PERMITS HAD BEEN RECEIVED, TOGETHER WITH 784 APPEALS TO THE TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL IN RESPECT OF REFUSALS TO ISSUE SUCH PERMITS.