XN000022-1993-10-11 — Page 7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1993

AN ACTING ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE

B.

AND FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, HAS BEEN APPOINTED SECRETARY TO THE WORKING PARTY.

"IN

SETTING UP THE WORKING PARTY, MY PRIME AIM IS TO IDENTIFY THE PRIORITY AREAS, AND FORMULATE PROPOSALS, FOR EARLY IMPROVEMENT TO - ADMINISTRATION OF THE JUDICIARY", SIR TI LIANG SAID.

"AMONGST THESE AREAS ARE THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO THE OPERATION OF THE JUDICIARY, REDUCTION IN COURT WAITING TIMES, SECRETARIAL SUPPORT FOR JUDGES, AND THE USE OF CHINESE LANGUAGE IN COURT, HE ADDED.

14

THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID THE WORKING PARTY WOULD ALSO SERVE TO MAP OUT A BROAD STRATEGY OF NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE NEW JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATOR, WHO IS EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE NEW JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATOR AT A RANK EQUIVALENT ΤΟ A

OR SECRETARY

HIGH COURT JUDGE

WILL SERVE AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD AND CONTROLLING OFFICER OF THE JUDICIARY AND HELP THE CHIEF JUSTICE IN THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THE JUDICIARY. RECRUITMENT FOR THE POST IS WELL IN HAND.

POLICY

-

THE CHIEF JUSTICE ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THE SETTING UP OF THREE COURT USERS COMMITTEES TO ADVISE HIM ON MATTERS OF CONCERN TO USERS OF THE COURTS.

THE

COMMITTEES WILL LOOK AT ALL MATTERS OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE; THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURTS, INCLUDING LISTING AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY; AS WELL AS THE FACILITIES PROVIDED IN COURT BUILDINGS.

THE THREE COMMITTEES ARE: THE CRIMINAL COURT USERS COMMITTEE: THE CIVIL COURT USERS COMMITTEE; AND THE TRIBUNAL COURT USERS COMMITTEE.

THESE COMMITTEES SHOULD PROVIDE A USEFUL FORUM FOR DISCUSSING PRACTICAL ISSUES AND A HELPFUL SOURCE OF IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURTS AND TRIBUNALS, SIR TI LIANG SAID.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE COMMITTEES HAVE INVITED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO NOT BELONG TO THE LEGAL PROFESSIONS TO PARTICIPATE.

THE CRIMINAL COURT USERS COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY A VICE- PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL, MR JUSTICE SILKE.

:

ITS MEMBERS COMPRISE JUDGE LONGLEY A DISTRICT JUDGE; MISS BETTY KWAN KA-CHING, A PRINCIPAL MAGISTRATE; MR I G CROSS, QC, DEPUTY CROWN PROSECUTOR; MRS D M PITCHARD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID; MR CHING Y WONG OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION; MR LOUIS FUNG OF THE LAW SOCIETY; MISS GRACE S WONG OF THE DUTY LAWYER SERVICE; AND MR CHAU CHAM-SON.

THE CIVIL COURT USERS COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY A JUSTICE OF APPEAL, MR JUSTICE BOKHARY.

/ITS MEMBERS