GR 1300
PRIORITY
PHER CAT A
LAKE
FM HONG KONG 200955Z
(34)
CONFIDENTIAL
Regiling
R
file seling
ве
Ma McLaren is dealin
DR COPY
६
35
39
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1116 OF 20 SEPTEMBER 1978. HKA 373/393/5
RELIVED
Y NO. 51
21 SEP 1978
FOR MACLAREN FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL.
INDEX
REGISTRY
ction Taken
YOUR TELNO 709.
1. THANK YOU FOR ARRANGING THE APPOINTMENT WITH SIR BASIL HALL.
2. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU WHEN WE SPOKE, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT
THE ENGLISH BAR AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
DAVID HIRST QC, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BAR COUNCIL. I HAVE JUST SENT DETAILS TO HIRST THROUGH OUR LONDON OFFICE AND I THINK THE
BEST THING THAT I CAN DO IS TO REPEAT THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT
MESSAGE TO YOU REALISING THAT SOME OF THE DETAILS WILL BE KNOWN
10 YOU ANYWAY BUT IT WILL BE IN A FORM WHICH YOU COULD PASS TO
SIR BASIL HALL AS A MESSAGE FROM ME, IF YOU WISH,
12
3. THE POSITION IS AS FOLLOWS.
4. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THEEXECUTIVE
COUNCIL (THE GOVERNMENTS PRIME POLICY-MAKING BODY, PRESIDED OVER
BY THE GOVERNOR) AND OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL COMBINES, UNDER THE SIMPLE CROWN COLONY CONSTITUTION OF HONG KONG, THE ROLE OF MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN ITS WIDEST SENSE AND THAT OF
PERMANENT UNDER-SECRETARY, THERE IS THEREFORE A LARGE POLICY CONTE
IN HIS WORK.
5.IN THE EXECUTIVE FILED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE PROVISION OF THE BULK OF THE LEGAL SERVICES REQUIRED BY THE
GOVERNMENT. THIS INCLUDES THE TRADITIONAL INDEPENDENT RESPONSIBIL-
ITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW, RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE IN THE CIVIL FIELD AND RESPON-
SIBILITY FOR LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING. MY CHAMBERS THEREFORE COMBINES
IN A SINGLE CENTRALISED ORGANISATION THE ROLES OF YOUR ATTORNEY
CONFIDENTIAL
/GENERAL