XN000022-1982-06-24 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1982

MOVE TO RECOGNISE SOLICITORS' EXPERIENCE FOR SUPREME COURT POSTS

****

THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO RECOGNISE THE EXPERIENCE OF CERTAIN SOLICITORS IN QUALIFYING THEM FOR APPOINTMENT AS SUPREME COURT JUDGES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT SOLICITORS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH APPOINTMENT AT PRESENT BECAUSE THE PERSON APPOINTED MUST BE QUALIFIED TO PRACTISE AS AN ADVOCATE OF THE SUPERIOR COURTS IN ANY PART OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR IRELAND.

IN HONG KONG, HOWEVER, SOME SOLICITORS DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING SOLICITORS WHO ARE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, AND SOLICITORS IN THE SERVICE OF THE CROWN WHO PRACTISE AS ADVOCATES IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES.

UNDER THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1982 PUBLISHED TODAY (THURSDAY), SOLICITORS IN CROWN SERVICE WITH 10 YEARS' RELEVANT EXPERIENCE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS SUPREME COURT JUDGES PROVIDED THEY HAVE BEEN IN CROWN SERVICE FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS AND HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF FIVE YEARS' CROWN SERVICE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE BILL MAKES TWO FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.

IT RESTRICTS ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE HIGH COURT TO PERSONS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT. IT ALSO ALLOWS THE SUPREME COURT, AS A MATTER OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE, TO USE ANY SEAL AS DIRECTED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

-

MAJOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR TUEN MUN

****

MAJOR BEACH-BASED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN AS A RESULT OF A LANDSCAPE CONSULTANCY AGREEMENT SIGNED TODAY (THURSDAY) FOR THE DESIGN OF THE BUTTERFLY BEACH RECREATION AREA.

SITUATED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE NEW TOWN, THE RECREATION AREA COMPRISES THE EXISTING POPULAR BEACH AND ABOUT NINE HECTARES OF OPEN SPACE IMMEDIATELY INLAND.

THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BY MR KWEI SEE-KAN, PROJECT MANAGER OF THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, BRIAN CLOUSTON AND PARTNERS.

+THE SITE WILL HAVE PEDESTRIAN LINKS TO THE PROPOSED BUTTERFLY ESTATE, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 50 000 PEOPLE, AND THE FUTURE FERRY PIERS AND TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE,+ MR KWEI SAID.

THE POPULATION OF TUEN MUN IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO ABOUT 550 000.