TNAG-0499-FCO40-564-Administration-of-justice-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

香港總督府

GOVERNMENT HOUSE HONG KONG

گی

The Stuart

Gold, like to take

ревшат

enstions an

thin

wilt me to tay Kang. (Wd. you

pleau ap

My der Jaunian

1JwV. Evans

of the Rushford),

ww

REF.

13th May 1974

LABT

(32

NEXT

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN HONG KONG

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51

20m 1974

HKILIY/6

Many thanks for your letter of 18th April enclosing comments of Sir Vincent Evans and Rushford. I enclose a copy of a letter from Sir Geoffrey Briggs, from which it appears that the only points raised about which we are not already doing something or are ready to do so, or are prepared to consider swiftly, are:

21:

a) Extension of trial by jury to the District Court: this is not an objection of principle but of practicalities. I will have another searching look at this problem, but if there aren't the necessary jurors I do not see what we can do. You will note Briggs' comment on the proposal that judges of the District Court should sit with assessors.

b) A review of the Legal Aid system: I will have a note prepared about the workings of the present system and its cost. One of the troubles

about its working is that the necessary solicitors and barristers are probably not available as both the Bar and the corps of solicitors are rather under-manned. You will note what Briggs says about this in connection with the appointment of local barristers to the Supreme Court. With regard to costs, I am afraid that expenditure on Legal Aid must be considered against the con- flicting claims of other forms of expenditure on what might be described as social security. do not myself see it as having any absolute priority over, e.g. housing, or education or medical services or public assistance, and I am sure that Finance Committee would have very strong views on this. I do not mean to say we are not prepared

Sir Duncan Watson, KCMG

I

CONFIDENTIAL