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1、TheBasiclawandtheCourtandLegalsystem(2)ThecriminallawInformationbasedontheDepartmentalpublication"LegalSysteminHongKong"printedin2008;pleaserefertothewebsitesconcerned,asprovided,formoredetailedorlatestinformationregardingtheissuesinvolved.CriminalprosecutionsTheSecretaryforJusticehasoverall
2、responsibilityfortheconductofprosecutionsinHongKong.ItisfortheSecretaryandthosewhoprosecuteontheSecretary'sbehalftodecidewhetherornotaprosecutionshouldbeinstitutedinanyparticularcaseorclassofcases.Inprosecutionsforseriousorcomplicatedoffences,orthosewhichgiverisetodifficultpointsoflaw,police
3、officersandotherlawenforcementagentswillseektheadviceoftheSecretaryforJusticeorofcounselintheProsecutionsDivisionoftheDepartmentofJustice.Indeterminingwhetherornottoprosecute,theSecretaryforJusticeconsiderstwoissues:first,istheevidencesufficienttojustifytheinstitutionofproceedings?Second,ifi
4、tis,doesthepublicinterestrequireaprosecutiontotakeplace?InmakingthatdecisiontheSecretaryforJusticeisnotsubjecttoanyinstructionsordirectionsfromtheexecutive.Inpractice,manyprosecutionsatthesummarylevelinvolvesimplecaseswhichareprocessedbythePoliceorotherinvestigativebodiesanddonotrequirethesp
5、ecificinvolvementoftheSecretaryforJustice.Atthesametime,allsuchcasesarescrutinisedattheMagistrates'CourtsbySeniorCourtProsecutorsactingonbehalfoftheSecretary.ThejurysystemThemostseriouscriminaloffences,suchasmurder,manslaughter,rape,armedrobberyandcertaindrugoffences,aretriedbyajudgeoftheCou
6、rtofFirstInstance,sittingwithajuryofsevenpeopleor,whereajudgesoorders,nine.Itisthejurywhichdecideswhethertheaccusedisguiltyornotguilty.Ajudgewillurgeajurytostriveforunanimityinreachingtheirverdict,butajurymayreturnamajorityverdictoffivetotwoorseventotwo.Thepurposeofadeathinquestistoestablish
7、theidentityofadeceasedpersonandthecauseofandcircumstancesconnectedwiththedeath.Incertaindefinedcases,aninquestmustbeheldwithajury.Inthesecases,andinanyothercaseinwhichtheCoronerdecidestoholdaninquestwithajury,ajuryoffiveisappointed.TheBasicLawexpre