XN000022-1989-06-23 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1989

LOOSE-LEAF EDITION OF LAWS OF HK PROPOSED

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WORKING

GROUP IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAS PROPOSED THAT THE EXISTING EDITION OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG BE PHASED OUT AND REPLACED BY A NEW LOOSE-LEAF EDITION STARTING IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS.

IN ITS REPORT. THE WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY A DEPUTY LAW DRAFTSMAN, MR ALAN PIERCE, PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT BOOKLET SYSTEM KNOWN AS THE "REVISED EDITION" OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG BE REPLACED BY A LOOSE-LEAF EDITION TO BE PREPARED AND PHASED IN, HOPEFULLY FROM MID-1991.

FOLLOWING A SIX-MONTH STUDY. THE GROUP CONCLUDED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW LOOSE-LEAF EDITION OF THE LAWS WAS PRACTICABLE, AND THAT IT WOULD HELP TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING THE SETS OF LAWS UP TO DATE, DEALING WITH BILINGUAL TEXTS AND FURTHER EXPANSION.

THE REPORT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ISSUE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND COPIES HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE JUDICIARY, THE BAR ASSOCIATION, LAW SOCIETY, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.

MR FIERCE SAID THAT SUBJECT то APPROVAL BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO GIVE EFFECT ΤΟ THE PROPOSAL COULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LATER THIS YEAR.

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THE WORKING GROUP FAVOURED A NEW LOOSE-LEAF EDITION BECAUSE BELIEVES THAT FROM THE USER'S POINT OF VIEW, THIS WOULD BE THE MOST EFFICIENT MEANS OF PRESENTING THE CURRENT STATUTE LAW IN PRINTED FORM.

THERE ARE TWO MAIN ADVANTAGES. ONE IS A CLEAR. EASY-TO-READ CONSOLIDATED TEXT, THE OTHER IS THAT LOOSE PAGES ARE EASY TO REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH UP-TO-DATE AMENDMENTS.

THE NEW EDITION WOULD ENABLE BOTH THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE TEXTS OF BILINGUAL LEGISLATION TO BE PUBLISHED ON FACING PAGES IN A4 SIZE AND DISPLAYED IN A "LANDSCAPE" FORMAT, THAT IS, WITH THE LONG SIDES OF THE PAGE AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM.

THE WORKING GROUP FOUND THAT ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE PRESENT SYSTEM WAS THE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE SETS OF LAWS UP

TO DATE.

"WITHIN MONTHS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE REVISED EDITION IN 1967, IT WAS REALISED THAT THE ANNUAL EDITION WAS INSUFFICIENTLY UP TO DATE FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF USERS AND A SEPARATE NOTER UP SERVICE WAS RESUMED FOR THOSE WISHING TO SUBSCRIBE.'" THE REPORT SAID.

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