TNAG-0499-FCO40-564-Administration-of-justice-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 146

Li

CONFIDENTIAL

HICK 14/11 Flag A

1973

WICKLY Flag

11

Mr Youde

22/1

Parliamentary Unit

M. Mac Doweld

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION TABLED BY MR ANDREW FAULDS MP:

OF THE LAW IN HONG KONG

1.

MG.

23/1

#4

ADMINISTRATION

Mr Faulds has tabled a Parliamentary Question for Written

Answer to ask the Secretary of State when he expects to be able to

make a statement on the investigation into the way laws are made and

administered in Hong Kong.

2.

The Question suggests that the Secretary of State has

promised such an investigation; but having checked back to 1969,

we are unable to find any PQ, public statement or letter to an MP

which implies such a promise. In a letter to Mr Wilford on

30 August 1973 Lord Gardiner, Chairman of JUSTICE, asked that the

Secretary of State's attention should be drawn to their view that

"by reason of the high degree of sophistication of Hong Kong, and

its importance as an international commercial and banking centre,

the traditional colonial legal structure is neither appropriate nor

efficient, and that the time has come for an objective review of all

aspects of the administration of justice in the colony". Mr Wilford's

reply promised replies on the specific issues raised by JUSTICE;

but on the question of a general review, merely confirmed that the

Council's views had been brought to the attention of the Secretary

of State. We have just received Hong Kong's long delayed comments

on the specific issues and will be submitting a reply to Lord

Gardiner.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.

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