ENG-1956 — Page 227

182

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Magistrates hold preliminary inquiries into indictable offences, and, if a prima facie case is made out, the accused are committed for trial at the criminal sessions, which are held once a month.

There is an appeal from the Supreme Court to a Full Court, consisting of two or more judges as directed by the Chief Justice.

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 direct the appeal, or any point in it, for consideration by the Full Court.

The appellate jurisdiction had a heavy calendar in 1956 dealing with 192 criminal appeals and 24 civil appeals, whilst the level of work in the original jurisdiction was maintained during the year when 657 actions were instituted.

The District Courts, of which two normally sit on Hong Kong Island and two in Kowloon, had another busy year although the total number of actions instituted, namely 2,699, was less than the record total of 3,201 for 1955. The District Court has jurisdiction to hear claims up to a value of $5,000 and a special jurisdiction in Workmen's Compensation. The District Court Judges also have a criminal jurisdiction greater than that of Magistrates which enables them to try certain cases that would otherwise have to be committed to the Supreme Court sessions. In its criminal jurisdiction in 1956 the District Courts tried 246 persons of whom 196 were convicted.

There are Magistrates' Courts on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon, and in the New Territories. The court in Kowloon hears cases from the whole mainland area south of the Kowloon hills. In the New Territories there are courts in Tai Po and Ping Shan. In the Magistracy on Hong Kong Island on five afternoons each week one of the Magistrate's Courts consists of two Justices of the Peace sitting together. One of the Justices is usually a solicitor. During the year