XN000022-1984-10-31 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1984

+THE SPEED AND COMPETENCE WITH WHICH A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFICULT PROBLEMS ARE DEALT WITH BY OUR COURTS AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE JUDGEMENTS HANDED DOWN HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT IN THIS TERRITORY, + SIR EDWARD SAID.

BUT HE ADDED THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM MUST DEVELOP AND REFORM ITSELF TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE DYNAMIC SOCIETY THAT IT SERVED.

+PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES WHICH HAVE BECOME HALLOWED WITH TIME CAN ALL TOO EASILY BECOME ENDS IN THEMSELVES.

+THEY MUST. WHEREVER NECESSARY, BE ADAPTED TO COPE WITH THE SOPHISTICATION OF MODERN CRIMINALS, THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF CIVIL DISPUTES, THE VAST GROWTH IN RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION AND THE SPREAD OF TRANSACTIONS INTO OVERSEAS JURISDICTIONS,+ HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THOSE MOST CLOSELY ENGAGED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM WOULD PLAY THEIR PART IN KEEPING THE PROCESSES OF LAW UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW.

ON THE STATUTE LAW, HE SAID IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEGISLATURES THAT ITS CONTENT KEPT PACE WITH THE NEEDS AND ATTITUDES OF HONG KONG'S FAST DEVELOPING AND UNIQUE SOCIETY.

+THIS IS A TASK THEY HAVE PERFORMED CONSCIENTIOUSLY OVER THE YEARS. OUR PROPOSALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE ADDED WEIGHT TO THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR LEGISLATION IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD SAID IT WAS A TIMELY COINCIDENCE THAT THE NEW BUILDING CAME INTO COMMISSION AT THE TIME OF THE INITIALLING OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

+ THE CITIZENS OF HONG KONG CAN THEREFORE BE CONFIDENT NOT ONLY THAT THE MAIN BODY OF LAW WILL CONTINUE IN FORCE AFTER 1997 BUT THAT THE LAW WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADMINISTERED IMPARTIALLY AND THAT THE COURTS WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY ENJOYED IN HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID.

IN HIS SPEECH, THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, OUTLINED THE BIRTH OF THE NEW BUILDING.

IN 1975, WHEN SIR DENYS WAS CHIEF SECRETARY, HE APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO ENQUIRE INTO THE NEED FOR A NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN.

A NUMBER

THE

THE COMMITTEE DECIDED A NEW BUILDING WAS IMPERATIVE. OF SITES HAD BEEN CONSIDERED BUT WERE FOUND TO BE UNSUITABLE. PRESENT SITE WAS FINALLY ACCEPTED.

/SIR DENYS