John Tilney, Esq., M.P
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1
03
29th September, 1971.
(
that with the establishment of a Law Department at the Hong Kong University in September 1969, the University would
very soon be producing law graduates who would have received their entire legal training locally. Although (surprisingly)
provisions even now have not yet been made for their
absorption within the two branches of the profession (barristers and solicitors), the Bar at any rate has always supported the view that with a Fourth Year Post-Graduate
course and a further year of pupillage in professional
Chambers, a graduate from Hong Kong University should be able to practise as a barrister in Hong Kong. If this proposal is implemented (and its rejection would appear unthinkable) serious thought must now be given to the career prospects of
these young men and especially the more brilliant ones.
What is disturbing is that to-date, there has been no sign whatever from London that any change might be effected in the system of appointments to the Supreme Court and District
Court Benches exclusively from the ranks of the Civil Service.
The argument that local appointments would demoralize the lower
echelon of the judiciary rings hollow when it is seen that the
judiciary is having to expand to cope with an increasing volume
of work brought about by the economic boom (a boom which, it
might be said, the legal profession in some measure helped to create by standing firm through the unsettled years of 1967 and 1968). What is more, this argument pre-supposes some vested right to promotion through the ranks of the judiciary.
I do not know whether this is a matter which might interest the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group. Some clarification
from the Secretary of State as to what precisely is the policy
with regard to appointments to the Bench in the near future
cont.
"