CONFIDENTIAL
GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 120
OF 12085OZ JANUARY 86
TOP COPY
FOLLOWING FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM:
GOVERNOR.
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MY TELNO 112 : WSFT TO LONDON
HRR 0:26/4.
1. NN MY TELNO 112 # HAVE REFERRED TO THE JUDICIARY. THIS IS
A QUESTION OF SOME CONCERN TO ME.
THE HARD FACTS ARE THAT IT IS AT PRESENT ALMOST ENTIRELY
EXPATRIATE: THAT CONTINUATION OF PRESENT POLICIES WOULD LEAD, IF ANYTHING, TO IT BECOMING MORE SO: AND THAT EVEN WITH SOME EXCEPTIONAL MEASURES (WHICH AM NOW CONSIDERING WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE) DOUBT VERY MUCH WHETHER WE CAN HOPE FOR A JUDICIARY OF WHICH EVEN HALF THE MEMBERS WOULD BE HONG KONG
CHINESE BY 1997.
STRY
1 5 JAN 1986
2. MY SECOND CONCERN IS THAT THE EXISTING INCUMBENTS ARE PRESSING
FOR ARRANGEMENTS WHICH EXTEND THEIR RETIRING AGES: ONE OF THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THIS COULD BE THE DEPARTURE OF APOUT A THIRD OF THE SENIOR JUDICIARY IN THE YEARS JUST BEFORE 1997. THESE ARE THE
KIND OF ISSUES WHICH AM DISCUSSING WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
THE FUTURE OF THE JUDICIARY IS VERY MUCH A MATTER FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND WOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO HAVE A TALK WITH HIM ON IT. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE MAY NEED SOME HEROIC
DECISIONS.
YOUDE
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HKD
PS
PS/MR RENTON
Ps/Pus
SiR W. HARDING
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
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