210
Sir D Watson Watsor
HW,
PS Mr Roy MG 2016
PS
CONFIDENTIAL
33
(28)
Flag A
Flag B
Flag
25
(32)
Flag D
NEW BILLS IN HONG KONG
1. The Secretary of State wrote to Lord Gardiner on 12 June
in reply to his letter of 5 June complaining, as Chairman of
the British section of Justice, about the four bills for the
revision of the court system in Hong Kong. The argument is
set out in my submission of 8 June.
The
2. We then consulted the Governor of Hong Kong, and, although
the copies of Lord Gardiner's letter and enclosures seem to have
gone astray in Hong Kong, the Governor has now sent us a
commentary (Hong Kong telegram No 668) which provides enough
material for a reply which should satisfy Lord Gardiner.
main burden of the complaint (in the drafting of which the hand
of Mr Jackson-Lipkin is easily seen) is that the magistrates
courts in Hong Kong are incompetent and are closed to practising
lawyers because of the absence of legal aid. The Governor, in
consultation with the new Chief Justice, has now decided that
no increase in the magistrates' powers is necessary.
3. Despite the lack of a commentary specifically directed to
Lord Gardiner's letter, there is advantage in replying substan-
tively to him now. Apart from the Magistrates (Amendment) Bill
the other proposed legislation has probably already been given
its third reading, and Lord Gardiner will be expecting a reply.
/At the
CONFIDENTIAL