XN000022-1985-01-07 — Page 4

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MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1985

+ IN THE CIVIL FIELD THE MONETARY LIMITS OF THE DISTRICT COURT JURISDICTION, RAISED TO $60 000 LAST JANUARY, MIGHT BE FURTHER WIDENED. IN THE CRIMINAL FIELD, THE MAXIMUM POWERS OF PUNISHMENT OF THE DISTRICT COURT MIGHT BE RAISED. EITHER GENERALLY OR IN SELECTED TYPES OF CASE, OR THE DISTRICT COURT MIGHT BE EMPOWERED TO COMMIT OFFENDERS FOR SENTENCE TO THE HIGH COURT, WHERE THE DISTRICT JUDGE CONSIDERS THAT HIS POWERS ARE INADEQUATE.+

APART FROM THE NEED FOR MORE HIGH COURT JUDGES, THE JUDICIARY MUST SEARCH ALSO FOR WAYS OF REDUCING THE TIME TAKEN IN TRIALS.

SIR DENYS SAID: +1 HOPE THAT WE MAY SOON RE-EXAMINE THE NEED FOR COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS, SINCE ADEQUATE OTHER SAFEGUARDS MAY BE THOUGHT TO EXIST FOR THOSE SENT FOR TRIAL WITHOUT ANY PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY.

+AND I ASK THE LEGAL PROFESSION TO HELP THE JUDGES TO MAKE THE NEW PRE-TRIAL REVIEW PROCEDURE EFFECTIVE, BY ENSURING THAT MATTERS WHICH ARE NOT IN DISPUTE ARE AGREED BEFORE TRIAL AND NEED NOT BE FORMALLY PROVED.

+WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM DOES NOT EXIST FOR ITS OWN SAKE. ITS PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, BY PROVIDING A FAIR AND SWIFT METHOD OF SETTLING THE ISSUES PUT BEFORE IT. OUR RECORD FOR SPEED HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. WE MUST BE SURE THAT IT IS NOT SPOILED, HE SAID.

ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

MR MICHAEL THOMAS- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, MR HENRY LITTON AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG, MR TIMOTHY FRESHWATER.

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR ORGANISED BY THE JUDICIARY WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1 200 PEOPLE INCLUDING JUDGES, MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES.

IT BEGAN WITH A CHURCH SERVICE AT THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL AT 3.30 PM, CONDUCTED BY BISHOP JOHN BAPTIST WU.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE INSPECTED A GUARD OF HONOUR PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG GUARD COMPANY OF THE BRITISH FORCES AT EDINBURGH PLACE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.

THE INSPECTION WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ADDRESSES IN THE CONCERT HALL OF THE CITY HALL, WHICH ENDED AT ABOUT 6 PM.

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