TNAG-0398-FCO40-444-Appointments-to-supreme-and-district-courts-from-the-Bar-in--1973 — Page 62

STAFF

IN CONFIDENCE

P.S.

In a further private letter to me of 6 June, Mr Briggs again mentioned that he was putting up Mr Morley-John for the Supreme Court vacancy, remarking that he has been passed over on more than one occasion before, has been recommended, then de-recommended, by Rigby C.J. and was not liked by Hogan C.J. Mr Briggs observed that there is in Morley-John a certain lack of self-confidence that he believes will vanish when and if he is accepted.

Mr Briggs expressed the hope that Mr T L Yang of the District Court will be the next appointee to the Supreme Court (i.e. on Sir Alistair Blair-Kerr's retirement at the end of this year) Ι understand that Yang is able and would be a good candidate and understand that Mr Roberts shares this view. Yang is said to be a better judge than the present Chinese judge on the Supreme Court.

Mr Briggs has not mentioned Mr Jackson-Lipkin as a candidate for. the Supreme Court. Mr Roberts thought he might be considered in 1975, when there will be another vacancy, but obviously it is too early to judge whether at that time he will be a suitable candidate. (He was active in connection with the representations from Justice and also recently sent some criticisms of the judicial set-up in Hong Kong to Sir Geoffrey Howe).

Mr Briggs will be on leave in the UK during the month of August and will no doubt talk to me generally about the judicial scene in Hong Kong.

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A.R:R

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

29.6.73