XN000022-1993-01-11 — Page 6

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MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1993

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR, WHICH WAS

A CHURCH SERVICE AT THE

BY THE JUDICIARY, BEGAN WITH CATHEDRAL, CAINE ROAD, AT 3.30 PM.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE INSPECTED A GUARD OF HONOUR PROVIDED DRAGON COMPANY OF HONG KONG MILITARY SERVICE CORPS WITH MUSIC BAND OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS AT THE EDINBURGH PLACE LATER AFTERNOON.

ORGANISED CATHOLIC

BY THE

BY THE IN THE

THE INSPECTION WAS FOLLOWED BY ADDRESSES IN THE CONCERT HALL OF CITY HALL. THE AUDIENCE COMPRISED JUDGES, MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES.

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LEGAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, RAISED SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW LAWYERS COULD HELP TO MAKE HONG KONG'S LEGAL SYSTEM MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

MR MATHEWS ASKED WHETHER THE LAW HAD ITSELF IN MANY RESPECTS TAKEN A PATH THAT LED IT AWAY FROM THE NEEDS AND THE SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND BECAME AN END IN ITSELF TO LAWYERS EITHER AS A GOOD COMFORTABLE BUSINESS то BE IN OR A STIMULATING AND SATISFYING INTELLECTUAL HOBBY.

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OPENING THE LEGAL YEAR TODAY (MONDAY) HE SAID:

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**WE MUST ADDRESS IN A SERIOUS WAY ANY PERCEPTION THAT THE LAW SOMETHING ALLEN TO THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG

KONG.

"IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY TO EXERT ALL OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THE LAW ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHOM WE SERVE TO MAKE THE LAW 'USER FRIENDLY'

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MR MATHEWS SAID MUCH HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE IN THIS AREA. FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAW SOCIETY'S HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL "LAW WEEK SERVED TO BRING THE LAW INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF THE LAW TO THE SOCIETY.

THE BILINGUAL LAWS

PROGRAMME WAS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PROCESS.

BUT MUCH MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE, HE SAID.

MR MATHEWS SAID: "UNFORTUNATELY, I SEE A MAJOR OBSTACLE POSED BY THE VERY COST OF MAINTAINING THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE WAS LABOUR INTENSIVE AND THAT THE LAW ULTIMATELY DEPENDED ON HUMAN BEINGS: JUDGES, LAWYERS, TEACHERS OF LAW, THOSE ENGAGED IN LEGAL RESEARCH A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHERS WHO HELPED TO SERVE THE LEGAL MACHINE.

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