XN000022-1985-10-25 — Page 22

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1985

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AMENDMENT BILLS SEEK TO REMOVE DOUBT

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THE LAW WHICH EMPOWERS THE HIGH COURT TO APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR WHERE TWO OR MORE ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN CONSOLIDATED IS EXPECTED TO BE AMENDED TO CLARIFY THE EXTENT OF THE COURT'S POWER.

UNDER THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY, THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WILL BE AMENDED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WHEN APPOINTING THE ARBITRATOR, THE COURT HAS POWER TO REMOVE ANY OF THOSE ARBITRATORS WHO WERE APPOINTED BEFORE THE PROCEEDINGS WERE CONSOLIDATED.

ALSO PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE IS THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES RULES CONTAIN RULES OF PROCEDURE RELATING TO BOTH THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE AND THE MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS AND PROPERTY ORDINANCE.

IN 1982 THE RULES WERE AMENDED THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) RULES 1982. THESE LATTER RULES, WHICH WERE MADE BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, REFERRED CNLY TO HIS POWERS UNDER THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE AND DOUBT HAS ARISEN AS TO WHETHER THEY WERE ALSO MADE UNDER HIS POWERS UNDER THE MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS AND PROPERTY ORDINANCE.

THE BILL SEEKS TO REMOVE THIS DOUBT,

THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985 IS SCHEDULED FOR FIRST READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 20 AND THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 ON NOVEMBER 6.

ANYONE WISHING TO COMMENT ON THE IR PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING IN JACKSON ROAD, OR TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

MARTIAL ARTS CONTEST

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THE FINALS OF THE CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS SELF-ATTAINMENT AWARD, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND THE HONG KONG CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION, WILL BE HELD AT MACPHERSON STADIUM, MONG KOK, ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 27) AT 6 PM.

ABOUT 100 INDIVIDUALS AND NINE TEAMS WILL DEMONSTRATE THE IK SKILLS IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES AND WILL BE PRESENTED WITH GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE TROPHIES AFTER THE CONTEST.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.

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