XN000022-1994-10-03 — Page 8

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1994

SIR TI LIANG SAID JUDGES MUST FREE THEMSELVES FROM "THE DEEPLY EMBEDDED FICTION OF JUDICIAL CULTURE THAT THE ONLY WORK WORTHY OF A JUDGE IS SITTING IN COURT WITH A WIG ON DURING THE COURT DAY AND WRITING JUDGMENTS AFTERWARDS.

"TIME PROPERLY SPENT IN THINKING, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COURT SYSTEM IS JUST AS WORTHY, HE ADDED.

**

SIR TI LIANG NOTED THAT THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND HAD PLEDGED TO CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE JUDICIARY THERE BY MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND ITS AIMS MORE EXPLICIT AND, GRANTED THE NECESSARY RESOURCES, TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC BY REDUCING DELAYS AND MAKING COURTS MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS DAUNTING FOR ALL COURT USERS.

"THESE LAUDABLE PLEDGES MAY WELL SERVE AS A GUIDE TO THE JUDICIARY IN HONG KONG," SIR TI LIANG SAID. "TO MAKE GOOD THESE PLEDGES, A WHOLE NEW MANAGEMENT CULTURE MUST BE DEVELOPED AND NURTURED.

MUST REMOVE THE FETTERS IMPOSED ON US IN THE 19TH CENTURY AND

AND

"WE

EQUIP OURSELVES IN EVERY WAY, MENTALLY, TECHNOLOGICALLY FINANCIALLY, TO FACE NEW CHALLENGES, SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY.

"JUDGES CAN NO LONGER SHOW A DISDAINFUL DISREGARD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS," HE SAID.

THE

CHIEF JUSTICE POINTED OUT THAT SUBSTANTIAL OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF A JUDICIAL SYSTEM COULD NOT BE MADE BY A FEW ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES AND THEIR STAFF,

"IT CAN ONLY COME ABOUT IF EACH JUDGE DEVELOPS A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, NOT JUST FOR HIS OWN PERFORMANCE, BUT FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM AS WELL, HE SAID.

AS ΤΟ WHETHER IT IS PRACTICABLE FOR THE JUDGES, WITH THEIR HEAVY ADJUDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES, TO SHOULDER ALSO NON-ADJUDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES, SIR TI LIANG QUOTED THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, MCGARVIE QC, AS SAYING THAT IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE JUDGES HAVING THE SUPPORT OF COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE TO THE COURT AND DEDICATED TO ITS VALUE.

PROMOTE

THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID COURT ADMINISTRATOR COULD HELP THE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND ENHANCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY.

"THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE COURT'S ABILITY TO RESOLVE DISPUTES JUSTLY, EXPEDITIOUSLY AND ECONOMICALLY," SIR TI LIANG SAID.

"INHERENT IN THIS IS THE PROTECTION OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

WHICH IS INSTRUMENTAL TO THAT GOAL.

"WE NEED TO ESTABLISH OUR CREDIBILITY IN THIS REGARD WITH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE ARMS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS THE MEDIA AND, THROUGH THEM, THE PUBLIC.

"ULTIMATELY IT

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IS THE CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC WHICH SUSTAINS US, THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID.

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