TNAG-0397-FCO40-443-Problem-of-increase-in-crime-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 91

Sir,

SPEECH BY THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL (ACTING) IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 20th JUNE, 1973.

DISTRICT COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973.

(

444/14/11

I am grateful to my Honourable Friend Mr. P.C. Woo, and his colleagues, for their expression of support for this Bill.

The Government fully appreciates the views which have

been expressed in opposition to the increase which this Bill

I can proposes in the powers of sentence of the District Judges.

say that the proposal was not put forward lightly and as I have

already said in this Council the object is to ensure that there

is available a suitable means of relieving any pressure which

there may be on the Supreme Court by reason of the increasing

number of criminal cases. The Government is fully satisfied that

the proposed increase in the sentencing power of the District

Judges is appropriate.

The concern of Members of this Council about the

availability of legal aid in the District Court is, of course, a

very proper one. I referred in my speech when moving the Second

Reading of this Bill to the decision earlier this year that legal

aid should be provided for any person facing in the District Court

a charge which is punishable with imprisonment for not less than

14 years. The effect of that decision is that no one who might

have been tried before the Supreme Court but is tried before the

District Court following the increase in the sentencing powers of

the Judges will be deprived of legal aid. His right to legal aid

is, therefore, already preserved.

Sir, I beg to move.