Judicial Development of Hong Kong on the Eve of 1 July 1997

In May 1984, a delegation of Chinese members of the Executive and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong expressed their concern in London about the continuation of the economic, political, and social systems in Hong Kong after 30 June 1997. ¹ Their concerns included the commitment of the Beijing government to the political philosophy of communism. ² Although their concern is well grounded, the question remains to what extent the delegation represented the Chinese population of Hong Kong, as none held an elected office. Throughout the Sino-British negotiations on the future of Hong Kong, the Beijing government took the view that no British officials nor their appointees represented the interests of the Chinese population of Hong Kong. ³ One of the items agreed on, however, is that the Common Law judicial system should be maintained in Hong Kong after 30 June 1997. This may be for commercial reasons as much as anything else. ⁴