XN000022-1986-01-13 — Page 7

ON

MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1986

THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL'S WORK INCREASED ABOVE THE 1984 LEVEL, BUT ONLY TO THAT OF 1983, SO THAT IT WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THE STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO HEAR A CLAIM WITHIN 60 DAYS OF IT BEING LODGED.

SIMILARLY, THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, WITH A SLIGHTLY LARGER NUMBER OF CASES THAN 1984, WAS ABLE TO KEEP WITHIN THE SAME PERIOD.

THE CORONERS COURT CONDUCTED MORE DEATH ENQUIRIES THAN IN 1984 BUT LESS THAN IN 1983, WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME.

ALSO SPEAKING AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, MR DENIS CHANG, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG, MR BRIAN TISDALL.

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR ORGANISED BY THE JUDICIARY WAS WELL ATTENDED BY JUDGES, MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES.

IT BEGAN WITH A CHURCH SERVICE AT THE ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL, PRESIDED BY THE DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL, REV. PAUL CLASPER.

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

THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ADDRESSES IN THE CONCERT HALL OF THE CITY HALL.

1 130 PEOPLE WARNED OVER COUNTRY PARK BAN

*****

MORE THAN 1 130 PEOPLE WERE WARNED OVER THE WEEKEND FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE SHING MUN, TAI MO SHAN AND TAI LAM COUNTRY PARKS AND TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE WHICH HAD BEEN CLOSED TO ALL VISITORS LAST SATURDAY (JANUARY 11).

+

IN ADDITION, 52 VISITORS TO OTHER COUNTRY PARKS WERE CAUTIONED FOR VIOLATING THE BAN OF BARBECUING WHICH CAME IN EFFECT THE SAME DAY.

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER, MR S.T. LAU, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THE PUBLIC HAD SO FAR BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF FIRE.

/+DESPITE THAT,