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CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
HRR
44114
2//
Mr Rushford (Legal Advisers)
VACA
VACANCIES FOR PUISNE JUDGES IN HONG KONG
1.
You will remember the correspondence we exchanged recently with Hong Kong about the filling of 2 vacancies for Puisne Judges.
2. In reply to our telegram at Folio 13 in HKK 14/14 attached the Acting Governor has sent his despatch No. 71 of 21 June. I have discussed this over the telephone with Sir J McPetrie and he thinks that we should now tell Hong Kong that in view of what they say we propose to recommend Mr Leonard for promotion to the outstanding vacancy. Sir J McPetrie thought that we should not attempt in any way to put responsibility for this promotion on Hong Kong but that as despatch No. 71 did not recommend in so many words that Mr Leonard should be promoted to the Supreme Court it would only be courteous to go back to Hong Kong telling them what we were doing before seeking approval of the appointment here.
3. I shall be grateful if you will confirm that you would have no objection to our proceeding in this way. We shall of course consult the ODA also before submitting the papers to higher authority.
EMaria
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
30 June 1971
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CONFIDENTIAL
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