ENG-1971 — Page 329

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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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 administered 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.

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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 the Supreme Court, and in all appeals heard in the Supreme Court and the Full Court. The Legal Aid Department was established as a separate department, independent of the Judiciary, on July 1, 1970.

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Out of a total number of 2,721 applications for legal aid in civil cases during the year ending December 31, 1971, 1,259 were granted. In the same period, legal aid was given for 142 criminal trials and 61 criminal appeals as against 146 and 132 applications respectively.

URBAN COUNCIL

The Urban Council consists of a maximum of 26 members, six ex officio, 10 elected unofficial members and not more than 10 unofficial members appointed by the Governor. The term of office of an unofficial member (which term includes both elected and appointed members) is four years. Of the ex officio members, the chairman (who is appointed by the Governor) is the Director of the Urban Services Department, while the vice-chairman is the