PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
Sir James McPetrie, K.C.M.G., O.B.E., The Commonwealth Office,
Downing Street,
LONDON, S.W.1.
CHIEF JUSTICE'S CHAMBERS.
COURTS OF JUSTICE,
HONG KONG.
26th June, 1969.
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Kamish,
May I refer to the exploratory talks which have taken place on the subject of appointments to the Supreme Court Bench from the local Bar. I wonder if the time has not come when it would be wise to make some move towards bringing this matter to the attention of serving officers.
We have a fairly convenient avenue in the shape of a document presented by a number of magistrates earlier in the year and which I
(a) a It requests two things: mentioned to you briefly in London. limitation on the appointment of officers from the legal service to senior posts in the Judiciary and (b) and assurance that appointments from the local Bar etc. are not contemplated if there is a suitable
It has not I enclose a copy. candidate already in the service. yet been answered; partly because we have the impression that an early reply was not expected and partly because of the talks initiated with the Minister in London by de Basto, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
As you will see, the document includes a request that if the necessary assurances could not be given in Hong Kong then the matter
You may remember that, should be submitted to the Secretary of State. in addition to discussing briefly the general outlines of the reply which might be sent on the substantive issues, I canvassed with you my view that the reply might, inter alia, indicate that what is and what is not submitted to the Secretary of State is normally a matter for the decision of the Governor rather than of an officer or group of officers subject, of course, to the right of any individual officer to petition the Secretary of State about his own personal position if he so wishes.
RECEIVED IN
IR SISTRY M.51 28 JUL 1969
HILIL 14/14
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