CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER CAT A
FM F C O 071600Z
(HKD)
29
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 495 OF 7 JULY.
YOUR
447.
YOUR TELNO. 447.
FROM LAIRD.
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE BAR TO THE SUPREME COURT BENCH.
1. MUCH REGRET DELAY IN REPLY. FEELING HERE. IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAVE AS A MATTER OF POLICY AGREED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH AN APPOINTMENT FROM THE BAR MIGHT BE JUSTIFIABLE IT WOULD BE WRONG IN PRINCIPLE FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A DOCUMENT WHICH IN EFFECT WOULD FETTER THE CROWN'S DISCRETION IN THE MATTER OF
SELECTING PERSONS TO BE HM JUDGES IN HONG KONG, LETTER FOLLOWS.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILE S:
HKD
MR WILFORD
SENTAT
LAST
REF
23
NEXT
REF.
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 75Page 76