Vandergert v. Zurfick – sllr 2000 volume 2 page 111

In Vandergert v. Zurfick, with the Petitioner being the Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Defendant Respondent being the opposing party, the court examined whether a Report—purported to be a privileged document under Sections 123 and 124 of the Evidence Ordinance—should be disclosed as evidence. It was held that such disclosure is strictly prohibited unless expressly authorized by the Head of the relevant department, reaffirming the principle that privilege attached to unpublished official records relating to affairs of state is absolute when properly claimed. The decision relied heavily on Sections 123, 124, and 162(2) of the Evidence Ordinance, supported by established case law, emphasizing that judicial inspection and production of such documents are not warranted where th