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CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Rushford (Legal Advisers)
Reference HKK 14/14
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUPREME COURT, HONG KONG
84)
1. You will remember Mr de Basto's campaign over the years for appointments from the Bar to the Bench in Hong Kong.
2. As a result of my letter to Mr Holmes of 4 November 1970, we received the saving despatch No. Staff 32 from Hong Kong last March. Sir J McPetrie's views on this are set out in his to me of 26 March. I thought it desirable to seek the views of the ODA and accordingly referred the papers to them on 1 April. Unfortunately, the ODA then lost sight of the matter and it was only when I made enquiries and we subsequently received Hong Kong telegram No. 447 that an effort was made to stir the ODA into action.
3. Basing myself on Sir J McPetrie's views I sent the telegram No. 495 followed by my letter to Sir Hugh Norman-Walker of 7 July.
4. I have now received Hong Kong telegram No. 499. Is there anything you would like me to say in reply to this? Perhaps something on the following lines would do
"Thank you for your telegram No. 499. If Roberts wishes to raise this with us when he is here in August we shall of course be glad to discuss it with him."
Maria
E
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
Heave.
26 July 1971
Mr Roberts is already
England (and Mr
29 July
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Perhaps your reply
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CONFIDENTIAL
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