CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 374
TOPOVERNOR
TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG
2 JUNE 1979(HKK.14/19)
LAST
REF
12)
29
CONFIDENTIAL.
REF.
CHIEF JUSTICE WROTE TO MCPETRIE ON 26 MARCH SUGGESTING THAT
PERSONS APPOINTED IN FUTURE AS DISTRICT JUDGES SHOULD BE REQUIRED
TO GIVE THE SAME UNDERTAKING RELATING TO PRACTICE AS IS REQUIRED
FROM A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT. THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S SUGGESTION IS ENDORSED HERE AND IF YOU ALSO AGREE YOU MAY TAKE THIS TELEGRAM AS AUTHORITY FOR REQUIRING ALL PERSONS WHO IN FUTURE ARE OFFERED
APPOINTMENTS AS DISTRICT JUDGES (INCLUDING LEONARD AND O'CONNOR WHOSE APPOINTMENTS ARE NOW PENDING) TO GIVE THE UNDERTAKING REFERRED
TO.
2. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT DISTRICT JUDGES NOW IN OFFICE MIGHT BE INFORMED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE THAT, THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN THE UNDERTAKING, THE OBJECTION TO PRACTICE APPLIES EQUALLY IN THEIR CASE AND THAT THEY MAY EXPECT THAT THE CROWN WOULD OPPOSE
ANY APPLICATION FROM THEM FOR ADMISSION TO PRACTISE.
3. IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE PROPOSALS, YOU WILL IN DUE COURSE RECEIVE A SAVING DESPATCH EXTENDING THE APPLICATION OF THE RELEVANT COLONIAL OFFICE CIRCULAR DESPATCHES (NOS. 531/52 AND 12/53)
TO DISTRICT JUDGES.
STEWART
FILES:
H.K.D.
ADDL.DISTRIBUTION:
U.N.D. (4)
SIR L. MONSON
MR. WILFORD
LEGAL ADVISERS
COPIES TO OTHER DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES DEPTS.
CONFIDENTIAL