CHIEF Justice Sir Ti Liang Yang had good news for those concerned about Hong Kong's future when he told over 1,000 young people of his confidence that the territory's legal system and practices would remain unchanged for 50 years after 1997.
Sir Ti Liang conveyed his optimism as guest-of-honour last week at the Joint Schools Speech Day of 16 schools belonging to the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
His address came on the same day the Chinese and British Joint Liaison Group had agreed on a blueprint that would establish the Court of Final Appeal in 1997, resolving the longstanding deadlock on the issue.
The chief justice told the graduates that the continuing success of Hong Kong's sound legal system was more closely linked to other factors than the change-over.
'The gist of the issue does not lie in 1997,' Sir Ti Liang said. 'The keys have to do with how to create a cost-and time-effective legal operation that meets the needs and growth of our society,' he said.
Sustaining a high standard in the quality of our judges, lawyers and police was another essential factor, he said.
'The Basic Law has clearly laid down that Hong Kong's legal system will keep its status quo after the change-over,' Sir Ti Liang said.
