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50% to 80% of the basic salary) was the main obstacle to the recruitment
of local people to the Legal and Judicial services. Mr. McPetrie said that
he noted the Committee's view but did not sec on what principle one would
justify paying to officers whose homes were in Hong Kong such benefits as
loave passages and allowances to educate children in, say, Europe.
Para. 3. TRANSFERS FROM JUDICIARY (INCLUDING MAGISTRATES) TO LEGAL
DEPARTMENT.
Mr.
The Committee were strongly of the view that the transfer of officers in an acting capacity between the Legal Department and the Judiciary made a very bad impression on the public; it blurred the distinction between the Judiciary and the Executive Government. McPetrie said that he understood that if a member of the Legal Department had been acting as a Magistrate or District Judge, it was the policy of the Attorney General that on returning to the Legal Department that'
officer would not appear in court for a period of, say,
three nonths. The
In the view of the
Committee thought that even this was not satisfactory. Committee, when an officer had sat in a judicial capacity he should never thereafter appear for the Crown in the criminal courts, and some members of the Committee felt that he should not even appear in the civil courts. Mr. McPetrie noted the views of the Committee and said that he would give
thought to the matter.
Para. 4. TRIAL OF CIVIL ACTIONS.
The Committee complained that the trial of civil actions was taking too long because (i) shorthand writers were not provided in the civil courts, and (ii) the number and quality of the interpreters available was inadequate. The Committee said that the consideration at (ii) also affected the administration of justice in lower courts. In their opinion the present salary scales (which are much lower than those paid to court reporters) were not good enough to attract satisfactory interpreters. Mr. McPetrie noted the views of the Committee and sail
that he would bring those views to the notice of the appropriate
authoritio3.
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