GRS 350 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 08113OZ FCO
TELNO 70
OF 080935Z JANUARY 86
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP TOP COPY
TKCK 256/1
кк
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
09 JAN1986
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
Сва
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELNO 18 : LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FROM JUSTICE
JACKSON LIPKIN.
1. THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL SEND YOU THE REPLY YOU HAVE ASKED FOR. BUT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD TELL THE PRIVATE
SECRETARY THAT BOTH THE CHIEF JUSTICE (TO WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN
INFORMALLY) AND HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE
REPLYING IN THE WAY PROPOSED TO JACKSON LIPKIN. IF JACKSON LIPKIN
WISHED TO BRING VIEWS ON THESE MATTERS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
ATTENTION HE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE DONE SO THROUGH THE CHIEF JUSTICE:
AND HE SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED TO RELIEVE THAT HE CHAS A DIRECT
LINE ON OFFICIAL MATTERS OF THIS KIND AND IMPORTANCE TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
2. SECONDLY THE QUESTION ON LOCALISING THE JUDICIARY IS A COMPLEX
AND DOUBLY SENSITIVE ONE, BOTH BECAUSE THE PRESENT JUDICIARY IS
SO HIGHLY EXPATRIATE, AND BECAUSE THE NEED TO GET MORE LOCAL JUDGES
FROM A RESTRICTED POOL OF TALENU MUST BE BALACED AGAINST THE NEED TO
MAINTAIN THEIR QUALITY. I EXPECT TO LET THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE
OUR VIEWS ON PT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OP SO. THIS IS ANOTHER REASON
FOR NOT CORRESPONDING WITH JACKSON-LIPKIN ON THIS SUBJECT.
3. OUR ADVICE IS, THEREFORE, THAT IN ANY REPLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SENDS TO HIM HE SHOULD SIMPLY THANK JACKSON-LIPKIN FOR SENDING HIM
HIS VIEWS WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIAL COMMENT ON THEM OP ON XU JATUN'S
SPEECH. IN ANY CASE NEITHER THE CHIEF JUSTICE (WHO WAS PRESENT) NOP
I BELIEVE THAT XU'S SPEECH WAS MEANT TO BE OTHER THAN A COURTEOUS
TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE JUDICIARY IN HONG KONG.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
PS
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
@