CONFIDENTIAL
4.
Mr. Hooper is the next in seniority and acted as Principal Magistrate from 15th May 1968 to 27th October 1968 during the absence on leave of a substantive Principal Magistrate. The Chief Justice has reported that although the period of this acting appointment was too short to provide material for any permanent conclusion, Mr. Hooper did not appear to be very happy in the post. In particular, he seemed to lack incisiveness in administration which is considered important to the functions of a Principal Magistrate. The result was to confirm the impression that he is not as strong a candidate for the post of Principal Magistrate as some of his competitors.
5.
Of the remaining three officers (Messrs. Byrne, Wilson and Bewley) from the Judiciary, each has qualities that might well fit him for the post of Principal Magistrate. However, the Chief Justice does not think that they are as well endowed in this respect as
Mr. F. Addison from the Legal Department and their advantage in seniority is relatively marginal as can be seen from the particulars set out in paragraph 2 of this despatch.
6.
The Chief Justice considers that Mr. Addison is the strongest candidate and this assessment is accepted by both the Attorney General and the Registrar General.
7.
He
Mr. Addison, aged 42, was educated at University College, London where he gained a Class II Honours LL.B. degree in 1951. was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in July 1952 and was then awarded a Type A Legal Probationarship. In August 1954 he was appointed a Resident Magistrate in Tanganyika. In April 1961 he transferred to Kenya as a Crown Counsel, and was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel in November 1962. He retired from the Kenya Government Service with compensation in September 1963. On his return to the United Kingdom, he served in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in London until his appointment to Hong Kong as a Crown Counsel on 15th September 1964. He was confirmed to the permanent and pensionable establishment on 16th September 1966 and was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel on 20th October 1966. He acted as Assistant Principal Crown Counsel (Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions) from 28th February 1968 to 1st August 1968. The Chief Justice considers that, by virtue of his maturity, experience, personality, ability, qualities of leadership, human warmth and understanding, he is an outstanding candidate for the post of Principal Magistrate.
8.
I agree with the Chief Justice's selection and should be grateful for your approval of Mr. F. Addison's promotion to Principal Magistrate with effect from 1st April 1969, subject to legislative approval of the 1969/70 Estimates.
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CONFIDENTIAL