ENG-1970 — Page 317

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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

cases transferred to it by the magistrates. It exercises appellate jurisdiction in stamp and rating appeals and in tenancy tribunal matters, and ordinary jurisdiction under the Distress for Rent Ordinance and the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. Trial in both civil and criminal proceedings in the District Court is by a judge sitting alone; he may not award more than five years im- prisonment.

The Supreme Court's civil jurisdiction is similar to that of the English High Court. It also exercises jurisdiction in lunacy, bank- ruptcy and company winding-up matters. The most serious criminal offences are tried by a judge of the Supreme Court sitting with a jury of seven. (A summary of cases heard and dealt with in all courts for the years 1966-70 will be found in Appendix 45).

The highest court in Hong Kong is the Full Court, which sits when required and is composed of two or three judges of the Supreme Court as the Chief Justice directs. The Chief Justice usually presides over this court, which hears appeals from the Supreme Court and the District Court and has jurisdiction corresponding roughly to that of the Court of Appeal in England. Appeals may be brought from the Full Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.

LEGAL AID

The Legal Aid scheme in civil cases in its present form first came into operation on January 12, 1967 and provided for the giving of legal aid to litigants of limited means in cases in which these litigants appeared to have reasonable grounds for taking, defending or continuing civil actions. At the outset, the scheme was adminis- tered by a sub-department of the Judiciary under the Director of Legal Aid.

The scheme provided for legal aid to be given in almost all types of proceedings heard in the District Court, the Supreme Court and in the Full Court. Its scope was increased in July 1969 by reason of the transfer to the District Court of the civil jurisdiction hitherto exercised by the magistrates.

On January 1, 1970, the Director of Legal Aid also took over the administration of legal aid in criminal cases. Such legal aid is available for accused persons of limited means in all cases tried in