§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the population of the New Territories of Hong Kong; and what proportion that is of the total population of Hong Kong.
§ Mr. LuceThe estimated population of the administrative area of the New Territories at the end of March 1983 was 1,601,500. This represented 30.4 per cent. of the total population of Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total electorate of Hong Kong for the purposes of urban council elections; and how many electors actually voted at the most recent election.
§ Mr. LuceA total of 708,119 registered electors in. Hong Kong are resident in the urban area and are therefore eligible to vote in urban council elections; 127,206–22.4 per cent. — voted in the most recent election in March 1983.
§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in each of the years 1980, 1981 and 1982, how many jury trials occurred ni Hong Kong; what proportion of criminal trials in Hong Kong took place without a jury; and in how many cases the colony's Attorney-General refused consent to jury trial.
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§ Mr. LuceJury trials in Hong Kong take place only in the High Court. The figures for such trials were 176 in 1980, 215 in 1981 and 319 in 1982. Approximately 99.97 per cent. of all criminal trials in each year, including those in magistrates courts, were held without a jury. Apart from certain serious offences which must be tried by jury, the choice of venue for each case lies with the Attorney-General. There were no known challenges to his decisions in the period under review.
§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, during each of the years 1980, 1981 and 1982, how many appeals from the Hong Kong Court of Appeal were heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; whether there are any proposals by the Government for the final determination of Hong Kong litigation within the colony; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceThe number of appeals from Hong Kong heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were six in 1980, three in 1981 and seven in 1982. There are at present no proposals for the determination of Hong Kong litigation within Hong Kong. The general question of the future arrangements for Hong Kong after 1 July 1997 is at present under discussion with the Government of the People's Republic of China.