CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1
25
Telephone 01-
The Hon Mr Justice G G Briggs
Chief Justice's Chambers
Supreme Court HONG KONG
My
dear Geoffrey
Your reference
Our reference
Date
20 September 1973
N
When I last saw you in London on 31 August I told you that we should welcome your views on the calibre of the Magistrates in Hong Kong.
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We should particularly like to know whether you think anything should be done to attract better candidates by improvements of salary and conditions of service for instance it may be desirable to recruit younger men because of their greater adaptability but if they are faced with the prospect of having to go into hotels for a considerable time after arrival this may be a deterrent if they have families.
We also wondered whether anything more is needed to help newly- arrived expatriate magistrates to familiarise themselves with the nature of the work required of them in Hong Kong and to give them appropriate guidance on such matters as sentences.
I gather that as the Law School aims to turn out about 30 graduates annually, the prospect of recruiting suitable Chinese to the magistracy may gradually improve, but that in the meantime it will be necessary to rely heavily on external recruitment.
I am sorry that owing to the brevity of your stay in London this year there was no opportunity for you to meet my colleague Paul Fifoot, who has been sitting on the Crown Agents Selection Board for Hong Kong magistrates. He has however had the benefit of exchanging views with Denys Roberts by letter and talking to John Hobley and John Oliver; each of whom felt that the general calibre of expatriate magistrates In Hong Kong was satisfactory, but that it takes time for newcomers to find their feet and adjust themselves to the Hong Kong scene.
I gather from our brief talk last month that you yourself have been favourably impressed with the general quality of the magistracy and would welcome an opportunity of giving us your considered views.
Ever yours Antory Rushfor!
A R Rushford
Deputy Legal Adviser
CONFIDENTIAL
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