XN000022-1994-06-29 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994

BILL TO LOCALISE TRADING INTERESTS ORDER

A BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), SEEKING TO LOCALISE AN ORDER THAT PROTECTS HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN AND COMPANIES AGAINST EXTRATERRITORIAL DEMANDS BY OVERSEAS GOVERNMENTS OR COURTS WHICH MAY DAMAGE THE TRADING INTERESTS OF HONG

KONG.

THE SECOND READING OF THE PROTECTION OF TRADING INTERESTS WAS MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR TH CHAU.

BILL

THE BILL REPEALS THE UK PROTECTION OF TRADING INTERESTS ACT 1980 (HONG KONG) ORDER 1990 AND REPLICATES ITS PROVISIONS, WITH MINOR CHANGES OF DRAFTING STYLE, TO PROVIDE THE SAME PROTECTION TO HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN AND COMPANIES.

ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO PROHIBIT PERSONS IN HONG KONG FROM COMPLYING WITH EXTRATERRITORIAL MEASURES OF OVERSEAS COUNTRIES OR REQUIREMENTS OF OVERSEAS COURTS IF THOSE MEASURES OR REQUIREMENTS MAY DAMAGE THE TRADING INTERESTS OF HONG KONG OR WOULD INFRINGE THE JURISDICTION OF HONG KONG.

MR

SAID CHAU

THE BILL ALSO IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF OVERSEAS JUDGMENTS FOR MULTIPLE DAMAGES AND CERTAIN JUDGMENTS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

0

PROSECUTOR IN OFFICE WHEN VERDICT RETURNED

THE

HIS

THE PROSECUTOR WHO WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE HIGH COURT WHEN VERDICT OF A CASE HE WAS HANDLING WAS RETURNED BY THE JURY WAS IN OFFICE IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON EMILY MR MATHEWS SAID THE CASE CONCLUDED ON MAY 29 (SUNDAY).

LAU,

"WHEN THE JURY RETIRED, THE PROSECUTOR RETURNED TO HIS ROOM

IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO WORK ON SOME URGENT PAPERS LEAVING HIS TELEPHONE NUMBER WITH THE JURY CLERK AND THE POLICE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE CASE.

ROOM,

THE

HIM, "

MR

"DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PROSECUTOR REMAINED IN HIS TELEPHONE CALLS MADE TO HIM WERE NOT RECEIVED. IT WAS ONLY AFTER PROCEEDINGS HAD BEEN COMPLETED THAT CONTACT WAS MADE WITH MATHEWS SAID.

A

ON MAY 30, THE PROSECUTOR WAS TELEPHONED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY NEWSPAPER REPORTER ASKING FOR HIS EXPLANATION FOR HIS NON-APPEARANCE. HE DECLINED AS HE FIRST WISHED TO INFORM THE JUDGE, WHICH HE DID.

/"THE REPORTER