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The following statement is issued on behalf of the Judiciary in response to press enquiries about today's court arrangements for the right of abode case before the Hon Mr Justice Stock:

There was no oral delivery of the judgment in the right of abode case today. All that happened was the handing down of the judgment in open court which took about 30 seconds. The legal representatives of the parties and the media were present. Copies of the judgment were available to the legal representatives and the press. Copies of the summary of the judgment in both Chinese and English were distributed to the parties and the public on LG4 of the High Court Building. Applicants were asked not to go to the courtroom.

It was thought that it was more efficient for the Applicants to be in one place to gather copies of the summary. If this had caused any inconvenience to any Applicant or members of the public, this is not intended. The judiciary throughout this case went to very great lengths to make the hearings accessible to all Applicants and solicitors for the Applicants have expressed appreciation.

End/Friday, June 30, 2000

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