XN000022-1984-07-18 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1984

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THE PRESENT LAW REQUIRES THE JURY TO BE EMPANELLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER A NOT GUILTY PLEA, THE BILL AIMS TO REMOVE THIS RULE.

*THIS SIMPLE REFORM DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH ANY OTHER ESTABLISHED RULE OF LAW OR PROCEDURE.

+ THE ESSENCE OF THE REFORM IS TO SAVE THE TIME OF MEMBERS OF THE JURY AND AVOID THE INCONVENIENCE TO THEM OF HAVING THE IR ARRANGEMENTS DISLOCATED IN THOSE CASES WHEN THE IR PRESENCE IS NOT REQUIRED AT THE OUTSET OF A CRIMINAL TRIAL, HE SAID.

MR THOMAS ALSO MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE JURY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SEEKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS AVAILABLE FOR JURY SERVICE.

THERE ARE AT PRESENT ONLY ABOUT 25 000 SUCH PERSONS, HALF OF WHOM MAY BE CALLED IN ANY ONE YEAR,

+A WORK ING PARTY WAS SET UP TO CONSIDER HOW THE NUMBER OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS MIGHT BE INCREASED AND TO CONSIDER THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CURRENT METHOD OF SELECTION OF JURORS.

+ IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THAT THERE IS IN HONG KONG A LARGE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL JURORS WHOSE ABILITY TO SPEAK AND UNDERSTAND ENGLISH IS SIMPLY NOT DISCOVERED UNDER EXISTING PROCEDURE, + MR THOMAS REPORTED.

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL JURORS WOULD NOT ONLY SPREAD THE BURDEN MORE EQUITABLY ACROSS THE COMMUNITY BUT WOULD ALSO BE ANOTHER STEP TO INVOLVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

THE BILL PROPOSES TO GIVE THE REGISTRAR AND THE COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION STATUTORY POWERS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR COMPILING FULL JURY LISTS, HE SAID.

WITH THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY AND EXPECTATION OF LIFE, THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO RAISE THE AGE OF POTENTIAL JURORS FROM 60 TO 65 SO THAT MORE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THIS SERVICE.

+I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE BURDEN OF JURY SERVICE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PLACED ENTIRELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

+THERE IS NO LONGER ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR THE EXEMPTION OF ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, + HE SAID.

BY THE NATURE OF THE IR DUTIES, CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC SERVANTS MUST CONTINUE TO BE EXEMPT, HE ADDED.

THEY INCLUDE JUDGES, MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.

MR THOMAS ESTIMATED THAT UNDER THE PROPOSAL, ABOUT 40 000 CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD BECOME ELIGIBLE AS JURORS.

/+SIMILARLY, TEACHERS,

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