2
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
Stipendiary Magistrates who would be very well paid but not eligible for promotion. The suggestion is that local legal practitioners of the age of about 50 might be attracted to such a position. I myself do not favour this as I think that we shall get those who have not been wholly successful in their profession rather than talented people with a will to work. All this is being considered by the Colonial Secretariat.
From my own personal experience, I know that both amongst the barristers and solicitors in Hong Kong there is a level of persons who are not only not successful but of doubtful character and I cannot help thinking that they will be the first to apply and because they are local it would be very difficult to refuse.
(b) We do not think we can make greater use of lay magistrates to try petty crimes. We have enough magistrates and there are very few delays in the Magistrates Courts.
(c) No one dislikes reporting on their brother officers more than I do but it is nonsense to say that this affects anybody's work on the Bench. Neither the person reporting nor the person reported on has anything to fear. I understand that annual confidential reports have a very real use in your world.
Your para. 6. If necessary, a counsel
appearing for an accused person can always ask for more time if he is taken by surprise by a charge brought in the Magistrates Court. But I cannot think myself that this is ever the case.
Your para. 7. This is part of the gentleman's belief that if you take a full note you cannot pay attention to the demeanour of the witness. This is just
nonsense!
Your para. 8. I think you mean Archie Zimmern. I have seen the letter. It is a good one and it makes the point which Miles will never acknowledge, that Hong Kong is a colony and has a colonial type of government. not seen the letter in question in print.
4 out
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вольт
I have
(G.G. BRIGGS)