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The Committee on Bilingual Legal System, formed under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Justice, Ms Elsie Leung, had its first meeting today (Monday) to review progress made in promoting bilingualism in the legal system.

The Committee is set up to advise the Government on the long-term goal of legal bilingualism and to address the policy and practical measures to facilitate the development and promotion of a bilingual legal system, having regard to Hong Kong's status as a member of the common law family and an international financial centre.

Members of the Committee comprise the Hon Mr Justice Chan, Chief Judge of the High Court; Dr Daniel Tse, President of Hong Kong Baptist University and former Chairman of the Bilingual Laws Advisory Committee; Professor Nelson Chow of the Social Work and Social Administration Department of Hong Kong University; Dr Ng Tat-lun, a well-experienced industrialist; Mr Alan Leong, representative of the Hong Kong Bar Association; and Mr Vincent Liang, representative of the Law Society of Hong Kong.

Members representing various departments of the government are Mr Chan Shu-ying, Director of Legal Aid; Mr Matthew Cheung, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower; Mrs Lai Chan Chi-kuen, Commissioner for Official Languages, and Mr Tony Yen, Law Draftsman.

Reviewing the progress made so far in promoting bilingualism in the legal system, the Committee noted the contributions of a number of committees, including the Steering Committee on the Use of Chinese in Courts chaired by the Chief Judge of the High Court, the Legal Practitioners Liaison Meeting chaired by the Secretary for Justice, and the Advisory Committee on Legal Education chaired by Justice Litton. The Bilingual Laws Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Daniel Tse was tasked with preparing authentic Chinese texts of legislation enacted only in English and concluded its work in May last year. The Committee on Bilingual Legal System will be a useful forum to co-ordinate their efforts.

Looking to the way forward, the Committee noted that the Department of Justice has initiatives in four broad areas: drafting of bilingual legislation, publication of legal glossaries, preparation of bilingual legal documents, and training of Government Counsel in the use of Chinese in their work.

Proposals by the Judiciary include facilitation of use of Chinese in courts, such as organising specially designed language courses for bilingual judges and judicial officers; compilation of a glossary of legal terms and phrases commonly used in courts; and putting in place a translation programme of judgments of the Court of Final Appeal, the Court of Appeal and the High Court.

Members also discussed a number of issues to take forward bilingualism in the legal system on a long-term basis:

* accessibility and improvement of reference materials and information for the promotion of bilingualism in law;

* translation of important English judgments delivered in Hong Kong and other common law jurisdictions;

* training of lawyers in the use of Chinese in court proceedings;

* training of law students in the bilingual legal system and Chinese legal vocabulary and Chinese language skills in law.

End/Monday, June 22, 1998

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