TNAG-0396-FCO40-442-Problem-of-increase-in-crime-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 121

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to be used as the main language of the bower courts in

Hong Kong.

38. The Chief Justice has therefore agreed to introduce

Cantonese as the language of the court, in a small number of

magistrates' courts, as soon as possible. Planning for this,

and for the provision of the necessary number of Cantonese--

speaking magistrates and prosecutors, is being undertaken and

it is hoped to make a start with the scheme by about

39.

Honourable Members are asked to advise whether the

following Bills should be introduced into the Legislative

Council:

(a) The District Court (Amendment) Bill, 1973;

(b) The Magistrates (AMENDMENT) Bill, 1973;

(c) The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 1973;

(a) The Training Centres (Amendment) Bill, 1973;

(e) The Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 1973.

40. If the various proposals put forward in this paper

are approved, it is intended to make an omnibus announcement

of all these measures at a suitable time.

(The Commissioner of Police (MR. C.P. SUTCLIFFE), the

Commissioner of Prisons (MR. T.G. GARNER) and the Registrar,

Supreme Court (MR. J.G. WILSON) will attend before the Council

for the discussion of this item.)