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how he would rate himself as a weather forecaster,
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but it is certain that whatever turbulent waters he
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my
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has faced over the last five years, they have been navigated with dexterity. As befits a skilled maritime lawyer, not only has he kept the legal system afloat,
he also leaves it in remarkably shipshape condition. He deserves the thanks of all of us and of the whole
community.
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MISS DUNN :
Sir, Members
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indeed wish to join you in the warm tribute you have paid to Michael Thomas. His talent as a public speaker has taken him all over the world and I have no need to remind Members of his eloquence and quick-wittedness and fast footwork in debate and at question time, and no doubt, some of these qualities have stood him in good stead in the law courts and before the Privy Council.
You have already mentioned, Sir,
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his contribution to the Joint Declaration.
We in
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of important and far-sighted initiatives, such as the Bilingual Laws project and his efforts to improve the trial of complex commercial crimes.
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We shall also remember the numerous
reforms he made to our legal and penal system during
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his term of office.. The abolition of the imprisonment
of civil debtors, the Rehabilitation of offenders Ordinance
and the Community Service Orders, to name but a few
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He has also done much to bring
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home to the people of Hong Kong the importance of the rule of law and the importance of their legal system as a bulwark of their freedoms and way of life. In his many contacts with Members, Michael Thomas has
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