HC Deb 20 December 1963 vol 686 cc277-8W
Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he has taken under Section 56(2) and (3) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; and if he will make a statement with regard to the application of the Act to those parts of the world for which Her Majesty's Government has responsibility.

Mr. Sandys

The following Orders in Council have been made under Section 56(2) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956:

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Gibraltar) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2031)—24th October, 1961;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Seychelles) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2032)—24th October, 1961;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Virgin Islands) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2033)—24th October, 1961;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Mauritius) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/167)—25th January, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Fiji) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/398)—26th February, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (North Borneo) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/399)—26th February, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Jamaica) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/631)—28th March, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (British Guiana) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/630)—28th March, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Hong Kong) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/1547)—23rd July, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Zanzibar) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/2180)—2nd October, 1962;

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Bahama Islands) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/2348)—24th October, 1962, and

The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Aden) Order in Council 1963 [S.I. 1963/1634)—27th September, 1963.

The effect of these Orders was to confer upon the High Court in the territories referred to above the Admiralty jursidiction of the High Court in England as redefined by Section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, in the light of the International Convention on Certain Rules concerning Civil Jurisdiction in matters of collision and the Internal Convention relating to the Arrest of Sea-going Ships, and to extend to those territories certain provisions of Part 1 of the Act.

Action will be taken to have similar Orders in Council made in respect of other territories for which Her Majesty's Government has responsibility on the request of the respective Governments of those territories.

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