TNAG-0396-FCO40-442-Problem-of-increase-in-crime-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 25

JUSTICE (HONG KONG BRANCH)

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Tom Sargant, Esq.

30th May, 1973

Already a serious inroad has been made into judicial independence when in November 1972, the government passed a law making it mandatory for magistrates to impose a minimum of six-months' imprisonment on anyone (whether a first offender and whether under 18 or not) convicted of the possession of an offensive weaponin a public place. That was said to have been the "first phase" of an Anti-Crime Campaign. The measures recently introduced leaves it in no doubt that the Government further aims to whittle down judicial independence in the Colony.

Accordingly, we ask the Council of our Parent body, to use its influence with the FCO and members of both Houses to urge the Hong Kong Government to reconsider the serious implications of these Bills and to postpone the passage of these Bills through the Legislative Council.

Yours sincerely,

(Henry Litton, Q.C.) Chairman

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