XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

MAXIMUM CONTINUITY OF INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM SOUGHT

CHINA ON THE

JUDGMENT AFFAIRS,

THE GOVERNMENT HAD SOUGHT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH COURT OF FINAL APPEAL, TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM CONTINUITY OF AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE VESTING OF THE POWER OF FINAL HONG KONG, ACROSS 1997, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

(WEDNESDAY)

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED MOTION DEBATE, MR SZE SAID THIS WAS VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR CONFIDENCE, FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG NO THAN FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

OF

LESS

"WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE STRONG VIEWS EXPRESSED SO FAR; THIS IS INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE THE CONTINUATION OF AN

BUT I THINK SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS FOR THE FUTURE. WE NOW NEED TO STAND BACK A LITTLE AND REFLECT," HE SAID.

HAD ONLY ONE

THE SECRETARY SAID IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS So FAR FOCUSED ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE COURT, WHICH WAS ASPECT OF A HIGHLY VALUABLE AGREEMENT.

TO PROCEED ARRANGEMENTS FOR

"THE AGREEMENT REACHED IN THE JLG ENABLES US NOW WITH THE LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND PRACTICAL

" MR SZE SAID. ESTABLISHING THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL,

HAVING THE HAVE MAXIMUM REPUTATION

"IT HAS THUS SECURED FOR US THE KEY OBJECTIVE OF COURT UP AND RUNNING WELL BEFORE 1997, SO THAT IT CAN

IT'S ESTABLISH OPPORTUNITY TO

EXPERIENCE AND GAIN AUTHORITY.

"FURTHERMORE IF THE COURT WE ESTABLISH IS TO GIVE FOR THE FUTURE, THERE MUST BE NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT IT WILL BE TO CONTINUE AFTER 1997. WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT,

AND

CONFIDENCE

ABLE

HE ADDED.

WAS

MR SZE SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL A COMPLEX MATTER INVOLVING THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION BOTH IN KONG AND IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

HONG

"WHILE WE AIM TO ESTABLISH THE COURT EARLY, WE ARE STILL WAY OFF BEING IN A POSITION TO INTRODUCE THE NECESSARY BILL INTO COUNCIL AND FINALIZE THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS.

SOME THIS

"MORE WORK IS BEING DONE ON IT, AND WE ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE AND NEED FOR THERE TO BE SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS ON THE INDEPENDENCE PRESTIGE OF THE COURT. WE WILL IN DUE COURSE SHARE OUR IDEAS MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LEGAL HE SAID.

11

WITH

PROFESSION,

14

BE LEARNT MR SZE NOTED THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE LESSON TO

ΤΟ NEED THERE IS CLEARLY A FROM EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS: FIND SOME MEANS OF ENABLING MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND BETTER, AND

COUNCIL WHAT GOES INTO PROPOSITIONS TO BE PUT TO THIS ENACTMENT OF LAW OR THE VOTING OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO PUT INTO AGREEMENTS REACHED IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP,

EARLIER, FOR THE EFFECT

/"IN EXPLORING

Page 10Page 11