TNAG-2164-FCO40-3097-Judicial-arrangements-between-Hong-Kong-and-Brunei-1990 — Page 7

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accommodation and subsistence allowance to the judges during their stay. From an accounting point of view, therefore, the arrangement does not cost the Hong Kong Government anything, although the absence of judges inevitably has an indirect cost effect here in that more deputy judges are required than would otherwise be the case.

Extent of Assistance

The Court of Appeal, comprising three judges, sat in Brunei for a total of 45 judge days in 1988, 63 in -1989

and 30 up to the end of May 1990.

5.

High Court Judges sat in Brunei for 118 days in 1988, 65 days in 1989 and 33 days to the end of May 1990.

6.

In addition, District Court Judges sat as assessors in capital cases for a total of 41 days in 1988

but not since then.

7.

In order to put this into its proper context, it should be noted that it is generally accepted that a Supreme

Court Judge should sit for 180 days in a year.

8.

In addition, the Registrar, Supreme Court is a Registrar of the Supreme Court in Brunei and serves as

liaison between the two Courts. He generally visits Brunei for a few days each year to attend the Ceremonial Opening of

CONFIDENTIAL