SECRET
Tobago, which are republics.
Confidence
is more likely to be maintained if arrangements
are made to keep the Judicial Committee as a final court of appeal but it is not an essential constitutional requirement.
Unacceptable Changes
13. While it would be possible to 'localise'. the judiciary to some extent and thus to give it a more Chinese
character, it would not be acceptable to accord jurisdiction
to the courts of the PRC or to allow the establishment
of a system of justice modelled on those courts.
Conclusion
14. It is desirable either to maintain the existing machinery of justice more or less as it is or to create local machinery of a more or less autonomous character that effectively preserves its essential features.
PART III: THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Present Position
15.
Hong Kong, as is normal in a British colony, has an Attorney-General, who is a legally-qualified public
officer appointed by the Governor with the approval of HMG. As a member of the Hong Kong public service, he is employed
Up to date, and remunerated by the Hong Kong Government.
the post of Attorney-General has always been held by an expatriate who is a barrister;
the present Attorney-General
was the first to be appointed directly from the English Bar.
6
/16.