STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
5.
There was then an exchange of letters between
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Si Leslie Monson and the Governor; and in his letter
of 5 May 1970, the Governor explained that the pro-
posal to create an Appeal Judge had been shelved and
that he had no immediate intention of reactivating it.
He suggested however that the proposal be looked at
again after few years "when four of the present sub-
stantive judge will all have reached retirement age".
6. The retirement age for judges in Hong Kong is 62.
Sir Ivo Rigby will be 62 on 2 June 1973 and Mr Blair
Kerr, the Senior Puiske Judge, will reach that age on
1 December 1973. The next oldest judge of the Supreme
Court is Mr Justice Briggs who was born on 6 May 1914.
7. Sir Leslie Monson and My Rushford discussed the
Governor's latest proposal during their recent visit
to Hong Kong. We sent the Governor a telegram infor-
ming him that we would let him have a reply when we had
received Mr Rushford's report on his talks in Hong Kong.
8. Mr Rushford's views are attached.
9. I suggest we should reply to the Governor on the
lines advised by Rushford ie agreeing to the proposals
in principle, but suggesting that the measures should
be made administratively in the first instance rather
I attach a draft Saving
then enacted by legislation.
Telegram.
1970
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