XN000022-1986-01-13 — Page 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1986

+THAT MAY SEEM SATISFACTORY BUT OUR DIFFICULTY LIES PARTLY IN KEEPING THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH SOUGHT AFTER BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND PARTLY IN ENSURING THAT THE EXPATRIATE LAWYERS WITH A DECADE OR MORE OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND THEM REMAIN IN HONG KONG LONG ENOUGH TO PASS ON THE IR EXPERIENCE AND ENABLE THE LOCAL LAWYERS TO STEP INTO THE IR SHOES,+ HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE JOBS AHEAD OF HIM IN 1986, MR THOMAS SAID +THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO BE DONE AND THERE WILL BE MANY CHALLENGES TO MEET+.

+THE WORK ING PARTY ON LEGAL AID WILL SOON BE PRODUCING ITS REPORT. THIS IS BOUND TO BE OF IMPORTANCE TO THOSE WHO CANNOT NOT ENJOY ACCESS TO THE COURTS WITHOUT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

+ THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION EXPECTS TO ISSUE REPORTS DURING 1986 ON THE LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO CORONERS, THE LEGAL EFFECTS OF AGE, INSURANCE AND COMPUTER CRIME.+

+WORK HAS ALSO BEEN PROCEEDING IN MY CHAMBERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER INTERESTED DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANISATIONS, ON A NUMBER OF MATTERS IN RESPECT OF WHICH WE MAY SEE LEGISLATION DURING THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR.+

THESE INCLUDED THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIVATE ROADS, THE SPENT CONVICTION SCHEME, AMENDMENTS TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION ORDINANCE, THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE, THE PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DEPRIVING DRUG TRAFFICKERS OF PROFITS OF THEIR TRADE, OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS, LEGAL AID, AND AMENDMENTS TO THE OATHS AND DECLARATIONS ORDINANCE.

A PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE JURIES INTO THE DISTRICT COURT IS ALSO BEING STUDIED, HE SAID.

ON COMMERCIAL CRIME, MR THOMAS SAID THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS CONTINUING TO STUDY THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIME AND WOULD NO DOUBT CONSIDER THE LONG AWAITED ROSKILL REPORT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE FIGHT CRIME SUB-COMMITTEE ON GANGS ALSO WOULD SOON BE PUTTING FORWARD OPTIONS TO COMBAT ORGANISED CRIMINAL RACKETS.

IN CONCLUSION. MR THOMAS STRESSED THAT TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE AND OUR SYSTEM OF LAW, WE MUST ALL REMAIN VIGILANT WHEN CHANGES WERE PROPOSED,

+ BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST RECOGNISE THAT THE LAW CANNOT BE FROZEN IN TIME. IT IS A LIVING ORGANISM WHICH MUST GROW AND DEVELOP TO MEET THE NEW DEMANDS OF A DYNAMIC SOCIETY,+ HE SAID.

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