XN000022-1985-01-08 — Page 3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1985

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CHINESE VERSION OF HK LAWS NEEDED, AG SAYS

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN AUTHORITATIVE VERSION OF OUR LEGISLATION IN CHINESE, ALTHOUGH HE BELIEVED ENGLISH MUST REMAIN A LANGUAGE OF LEGISLATION AND OF THE COURTS, IN ORDER THAT HONG KONG MIGHT RETAIN AND INCREASE ITS REPUTATION AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF COMMERCE, MANUFACTURING, BANKING AND THE LAW.

SPEAKING TO THE CONVOCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG THIS EVENING ON THE FUTURE TASKS OF HIS CHAMBERS. MR THOMAS DISCLOSED A PILOT SCHEME TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN A LEGAL SYSTEM IN WHICH CHINESE AND ENGLISH VERSIONS OF LEGISLATION ARE EQUALLY AUTHORITATIVE.

+1 AM MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL TRAINING TO BE GIVEN BY LAWYERS IN MY CHAMBERS, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN LAW DRAFTING AND ARE EXPERT IN CHINESE, TO A SELECTED CORPS OF FULLY-QUAL IF IED TRANSLATORS.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL ENABLE US TO MAKE A START ON PRODUCING SELECTED PIECES OF NEW LEGISLATION IN BOTH LANGUAGES IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION 1985-86.

*THE EXPERIENCE GAINED AT THAT STAGE WILL DETERMINE THE DIRECTION WE WILL TAKE AND THE PACE OF PROGRESS IN THE ENORMOUS JOB OF TRANSLATING THE EXISTING 26 VOLUMES OF ORDINANCES AND SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, HE SAID.

MR THOMAS POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT IT WAS NEITHER POSSIBLE NOR PRUDENT TO LET EXPEDIENCY RULE OUR THINKING.

+ IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT THE QUALITY AND STANDARD OF THE WORK SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE COURTS AND BE SEEN BY ALL WHO, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, HAVE RECOURSE TO THE CHINESE VERSION, TO BE NO LESS ADEQUATE FOR THESE PURPOSES THAN THE ENGLISH VERSION, + HE SAID.

ANOTHER TASK WHICH CONFRONTS HIS CHAMBERS IS LOCALISATION OF THE LAW AND CODIFICATION OF SOME PART OF IT, ALTHOUGH IN THE LATTER CASE THE REASON IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE TERMS OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT BUT BECAUSE EASIER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW IS ALWAYS DESIRABLE.

MR THOMAS EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO LOCAL ISE ALL LEGISLATION PROGRESSIVELY BECAUSE AT PRESENT SEVERAL IMPORTANT AREAS OF OUR LAW ARE CONTAINED IN UK ACTS AND ORDERS IN COUNCIL AND EVEN ONCE LOCATED, THEY ARE NOT EASY TO UNDERSTAND UNLESS ONE IS A LAWYER WHO KNOWS THE BRITISH STYLE OF LEGISLATION.

/HE GAVE