XN000022-1992-02-15 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1992

COMMUNITY THAT VALUES THE LAW CAN DEFEND THAT LAW: AG

A COMMUNITY WHICH UNDERSTOOD AND VALUED THE LAW COULD DEFEND THAT LAW AND ITS INSTITUTIONS, WHICH EXISTED FOR THEIR PROTECTION AND THEIR BENEFIT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' LAW EXHIBITION, MR MATHEWS SAID THE LAW WAS VERY MUCH A LIVING ORGANISM WHICH NERDED CULTIVATION, SUSTENANCE, AND PROTECTION TO MAINTAIN ITS EFFICIENCY AND STRENGTH.

HE SAID THE LAW DREW ITS STRENGTH NOT JUST FROM JUDGES AND LAWYERS, BUT ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY WHICH IT SERVED.

MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT MUCH OF HONG KONG'S EXTRAORDINARY RECORD OF SUCCESS WAS ATTRIBUTABLE ΤΟ ITS LAWS AND LEGAL SYSTEM, WHICH DREW SUBSTANTIALLY ON HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF THE COMMON LAW WORLD.

"THE FACT THAT THE RULE OF LAW IS WELL ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG, THAT THE JUDGĖS HAVE INDEPENDENCE, THAT PEOPLE SEEKING JUSTICE HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE

TO THE COURTS, AND THAT THE COURTS THEMSELVES ARE SECOND TO NONE IN THIS REGION, ATTRACTS AND ENCOURAGES MANY TO COME TO HONG KONG, TO DO BUSINESS HERE AND TO STAY

ON.

"PEOPLE IN HONG KONG KNOW THAT REMEDIES WILL BE AFFORDED WHERE WRONGS ARE DONE, CRIMES WILL BE VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTED; CONTRACTS WILL BE ENFORCED AND THAT, JUSTICE IS DONE AND SEEN TO BR DONE IN OUR COURTS, HE SAID.

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MR MATHEWS SAID THE EXHIBITION WAS MEANINGFUL AND VALUABLE FOR IT WOULD ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC то DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR LAW AND LEGAL SYSTEM.

"THIS ITSELF WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM, AND HELP ENTRENCH THE PRINCIPLE OF THE RULE OF LAW," HE SAID.

MR MATHEWS SAID THE EXHIBITION WAS A BOLD JOINT INITIATIVE BY THE.COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LOCAL CROWN COUNSEL ASSOCIATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS.

"IN ORGANISING THIS EXHIBITION, THEY HAVE SET THEMSELVES THE DEMANDING TASK OF PRESENTING THE LAW, OFTEN SEEN AS REMOTE AND DRY, IN A VIVID AND INTERESTING WAY," HE SAID.

HE SAID IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT A LAW EXHIBITION OF THIS KIND HAD BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH SO MUCH INPUT AND PARTICIPATION BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

HE EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION OF THE VOLUNTEERING SPIRIT AND CIVIC AWARENESS THAT THE STUDENTS HAD DEMONSTRATED IN TAKING THE PROJECT.

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