KAP. 4.

adoption, become, for the most part an English Common Law country
in practice, if not in theory, and has therefore come to enjoy the same
legal tradition as most countries in the Commonwealth.
While Manx and English law have been rapidly converging over the
last two centuries, differences between the two systems keep appearing.
There are parts of Manx law in which it is convenient that differences
from English law should be kept to a minimum, and they include the
criminal law, contract and tort, family law and social security law. But
the law relating to the administration of the Island, to land and planning,
to taxation, to companies and financial supervision, to industrial
relations and industrial development and to many other matters must
be adapted to the special needs of the Island. As far as one can see, the
Manx legal system, and indeed the Manx government, will continue to
develop independently, whilst always remaining under the influence of
the Island’s powerful and, we hope, friendly neighbour.
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