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6.
A further point is that Colonial Regulation 18 states
that "the Governor may select suitably qualified local
candidates to vacant offices in the Public Service .... the
claims of meritorious officers in the Public Service will
generally take precedence over persons not already in the
Public Service. For the purpose of this Regulation the term
"local candidates" means persons resident or serving in the
territory ....". Consideration has therefore been given to
the possible existence of suitable Service candidates from
outside Hong Kong whose claims should be examined.
7. The only possible name is that of Mr Justice Trainor in
He appears to
ANNEY DA' the New Hebrides (curriculum vitae attached).
be a suitable appointee; he is aged 58, which would have the
advantage of preventing the High Court Bench in Hong Kong from
becoming stagnant for too long; he is overdue for a move
from the Western Pacific, where he has been for 10 years.
His claim to a transfer (and Hong Kong would be the only suitable appointment) is marginally greater than that of
Mr Cons' to appointment and certainly greater than that of
Mr Jackson-Lipkin.
Both the latter could well wait a year
or so until the next vacracies fall due.
8. If Mr Jackson-Lipkin had been resident in Hong Kong for
many years and were a highly respected older member of his profession there, then his claims to a Puisne Judgeship would be the greater. However, since he (Jackson-Lipkin) is a
comparative newcomer in Hong Kong, and having regard to Mr Cons prospectively long tenure on the High Court Bench, it is
/felt
3.
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