XN000022-1986-05-29 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1986'

HE WENT ON: +BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE USE OF CHINESE IN LOCAL ORDINANCES IS A DIFFERENT MATTER. I THINK IT IS PLAINLY DESIRABLE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS TERRITORY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE CHINESE SPEAKING, SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ AND UNDERSTAND IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE THE PUBLIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW WHICH IN SO MANY RESPECTS GOVERNS THEIR LIVES, THEIR HOUSING, THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.+

MR THOMAS POINTED OUT THAT A DISCUSSION PAPER SETTING OUT THE VARIOUS METHODS OF PRODUCING AN AUTHENTIC CHINESE VERSION OF HONG KONG STATUTE LAW HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR COMMENT.

CODIFICATION OF SELECTED AREAS OF THE COMMON LAW WAS ANOTHER HIGHLY DESIRABLE TASK TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD, AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION WAS ALREADY LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER.

MR THOMAS ALSO SUMMARISED THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE WORK BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

IN CONCLUSION, HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMON LAW, AND SAID: THE COMMON LAW IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN HONG KONG. THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY'S HISTORY, THE VALUES AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE COMMON LAW HAVE MATCHED THE SUCCESSIVE NEEDS OF ITS TRADERS,

TS IMMIGRANTS, ITS ENTREPRENEURS AND ITS FOREIGN INVESTORS. THE COMMON LAW HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE GOOD ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE TERRITORY, SO IT IS AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION OF HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.

+ THE JOINT DECLARATION'S ASSURANCES THAT THE COMMON LAW, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE OTHER ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF HONG KONG'S LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM, WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE BASIC LAW BEYOND 1997 HAS BEEN AMONG THE MAIN REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY,±

SENIOR DIRECTORATE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) A FURTHER SERIES OF SENIOR DIRECTORATE APPOINTMENTS AS FOLLOWS:-

DR NIP KAM-FAN WILL BE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES. HE HAS BEEN DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT SINCE OCTOBER 1984.

MR HAROLD BEATON WILL BE DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS. PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEER SINCE MARCH 1981.

HE HAS BEEN A

THE APPOINTMENTS WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JUNE 1, 1986 WHEN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE REORGANISATION OF THE LANDS AND WORKS GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

THIS PHASE