XN000022-1986-08-24 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 1936**

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JP'S PERFORM IMPORTANT ROLE

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JUSTICES OF THE PEACE PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, PERFORMING DIVERSE DUTIES WHICH ARE LAID DOWN BY LAW.

ONE DAY THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AN INSPECTION VISIT TO A CORRECTIONAL OR REFORMATORY INSTITUTION, OR A HOSPITAL.

ON ANOTHER THEY MAY BE ASKED TO ATTEST A DOCUMENT, DECLARATION, OR AFFIDAVIT. THIS COULD INVOLVE WITNESSING THE SIGNATURE OF A MEDICAL GRADUATE APPLYING FOR A GENERAL PRACTITIONER'S LICENCE OR WITNESSING THE DECLARATION OF SECRECY BY A RETURNING OFFICER IN A DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION.

ALL THESE DUTIES ARE PERFORMED BY JP'S IN THEIR OWN TIME, AND THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY HONORARIUM.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE - UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL - ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND THE GROWTH IN THE IR NUMBER CAN BE VIEWED AS COMMENSURATE WITH HONG KONG'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST TWO DECADES.

IN THE EARLY 1960'S, NEW JP'S WERE APPOINTED EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER WAS AROUND 300.

NOWADAYS, NEW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE EVERY YEAR, AS A RULE, ABOUT 40 NEW JP'S ARE APPOINTED IN THESE EXERCISES, WITH A ROUGHLY EQUAL PROPORTION OF UNOFFICIALS AND OFFICIALS.

THE TOTAL ROLL OF JP'S NOW STANDS AT ABOUT 650, AND CAN BE EXPECTED TO INCREASE FURTHER.

UNOFFICIAL JP'S ARE PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY WITH A COMMENDABLE RECORD OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND A DESIRE TO CONTINUE THIS SERVICE AS JP'S EVEN THOUGH IT WILL MAKE A NOT INSUBSTANTIAL DEMAND ON THEIR TIME.

IT IS A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT, AND TWO OF THE LONGEST SERVING UNOFFICIAL JP'S ARE LORD KADOOR IE AND MR TS'O TSUN-ON. BOTH WERE APPOINTED IN 1936.

OFFICIAL JP'S TEND TO BE THOSE GOVERNMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAVE FAIRLY HIGH RANK. ONCE APPOINTED, THEY GENERALLY HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THEY LEAVE THE CIVIL SERVICE.

IN ADDITION, CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - DISTRICT OFFICERS, FOR EXAMPLE - ARÉ APPOINTED EX-OFFICIO JP'S IN VIEW OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE IR POSTING, AND THE APPOINTMENT CEASES WHEN THEY ARE RE-ASSIGNED. POWER TO MAKE THESE EX-OFFICIO APPOINTMENTS IS DELEGATED TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY.

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