XN000022-1994-01-16 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, JANAURY 16, 1994

RULE OF LAW TO CONTINUE AFTER 1997

THE LEGAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE FORCE TO THE RULE OF LAW AFTER 1997, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

BALL

SPEAKING AT THE JAYCEES INAUGURAL

TONIGHT, MR MATHEWS SAID THE RULE OF LAW LIED AT THE HEART OF HONG KONG'S LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE CONTINUATION OF THAT SYSTEM WAS GUARANTEED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW.

HE ALSO TOLD MEMBERS OF JAYCEES THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM WAS BASED ON THE RULE OF LAW OPERATED BY AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY AND INDEPENDENT LAWYERS WITH PROSECUTION DECISIONS MADE FREE FROM POLITICAL PRESSURE.

WHO

DISPENSE

HE SAID: "IT IS OUR JUDGES AND MAGISTRACIES JUSTICE IN HONG KONG IN A FAIR AND EVEN-HANDED WAY, FREE FROM POLITICAL PRESSURE OR INTERFERENCE.

"ALTHOUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT, IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF OUR SYSTEM THAT WHEN DECISIONS TO PROSECUTE OR NOT TO PROSECUTE ARE MADE THEY ARE MADE QUITE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE GOVERNMENT AND EQUALLY FREE FROM POLITICAL PRESSURE OR INTERFERENCE."

AS FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, HE SAID: "BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS IN HONG KONG ARE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT AND SELF-REGULATING BODIES THAT LAY DOWN FOR THEMSELVES RULES TO REGULATE THE HIGH STANDARD AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY THAT THE COMMUNITY RIGHTLY EXPECTS OF THEM,'

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NOTING THAT THERE WOULD BE CHANGES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM AFTER 1997 TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY AND ΤΟ ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO ASSURED HIS AUDIENCE THAT THE CHANGES WOULD NOT ALTER IN ANY FUNDAMENTAL WAY THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

HE SAID EXPECTED CHANGES INCLUDED MORE USE OF CHINESE IN COURTS, TRANSLATION OF ALL ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS INTO CHINESE, LOCALISATION OF LAWS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF ARRANGEMENTS TO REGULATE LEGAL RELATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINSTRATION REGION AND THE REST OF CHINA.

MR MATHEWS SAID: "SOME CHINESE IS ALREADY USED IN SOME OF OUR MAGISTRATE COURTS BUT WE MUST WORK TOWARDS A SITUATION WHERE THOSE APPEAR BEFORE THE COURTS CAN HAVE THEIR CASES HEARD

IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE VAST BULK OF THE POPULATION IN HONG KONG.

INTO

AS FOR THE TRANSLATION OF ORDINANCES AND REGULATION CHINESE AND LOCALISATION OF LAWS, HE NOTED THAT THE TASKS WERE WELL UNDERWAY AND THE TARGET WAS TO HAVE THEM COMPLETED BEFORE

1997.

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