Unfortunate Mr Chua on receiving end of an uncommon call to duty

ROBERT Chua has received yet another jury summons. This will be the seventh he has received in a year.

Readers may recall Mr Chua, chairman of China Entertainment Television, expressed his annoyance through this newspaper on January 17, after getting six in 12 months.

Andrew Ho, of the Supreme Court, has now written to Mr Chua saying: 'You will be aware that you have been granted numerous excuses for business reasons over the past year . . . I appreciate the inconvenience, but in view of the repeated indulgence granted, you will, please attend for jury service selection in terms of your Summons on February 28, 1996.' I like the elegant comma after the word 'will', which neatly forces one to make a slight but significant pause.

The command continues: 'Please note that a failure to attend after due service of a Summons is an offence under Section 32 of the Jury Ordinance, in which event the papers may be referred to the Attorney-General.' Mr Chua was irritated yesterday. 'I've already turned up for jury service once, a few years ago. It was not my fault that I wasn't picked. I'm a busy man.' He was even more horrified when he realised his phone and pager would have to be switched off, causing him to no doubt miss a slew of billion dollar deals.

An official from the Legal Department told me yesterday that they treat everyone exactly the same.

I would pity any defendant who gets Mr Chua on his case, since he will be in a foul mood.