ENG-1954 — Page 201

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

and in some instances excluded, provisions made in the English Rules of Practice. The laws of England, as they existed in that country on 5th April, 1843 are in force in the Colony except where such laws are inapplicable to local circumstances or have been subject to local modification.

All civil claims above the sum of $5,000 are heard in the Court's Original Jurisdiction as well as all miscellaneous proceedings concerning questions arising estates, appointments of trustees and company

matters.

Cases in the Probate, Divorce, Admiralty and Bankruptcy Jurisdictions of the Court are usually heard by the Chief Justice. Indictable offences are first heard before magistrates and are committed to the criminal sessions which are held once a month.

A right of appeal exists in all these cases. Appeals are heard by a Full Court consisting of two or more judges. Under the Magistrates Ordinance, any person aggrieved may appeal to a judge from the decision of a magistrate. This form of appeal is heard by a single judge who may reserve the appeal, or any point in it, for consideration by the Full Court, or may direct the appeal, or the point to be argued, before the Full Court.

During the year, 565 actions, consisting of 437 Original Jurisdiction claims and 128 matters in Miscel- laneous Proceedings were instituted in this division. Most of the claims in the actions arose out of commercial transactions.

A gratifying feature of the Supreme Court criminal jurisdiction is the fact that it is possible to report once more a decrease in serious crime. In 1954, 68 persons

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