GRS
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO MMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2438
OF 230345Z JUNE 87
Confidential
HKA 373/3
ика
06 JUL 1987
RA
031
19
37
MNFO PRIORITY PEKMING
YOUR TELNO. 1655 : JLG Viln
FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE JUDICIARY.
WE HAVE MODIFIED THE SPEAKING NOTE AND DEFENSIVE MATERIAL AS SUGGES- TED #N TUR EXCEPT THAT WE HAVE LEFT THE WORD SECRETARIAT IN PARA. 2 OF THE SPEAKING NOTE. TO OMBUT KIT WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE JUDICIARY HIS NOT PART OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THE REVISED TEXTS ARE AS
FOLLOWS:
BE GAINS
SPEAKHING NOTE
AT JLG MN BRMITHISH SIDE INFORMED CHINESE SADE THAT HKG WAS EXAMIN JUDICIAL TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. ON 29 MAY THROUGH DIPLOMATNIC CHANNELS, BRITISH SHOE ADVISED CHINESE SIDE OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO IMPROVE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY AND HANDED OVER A PAPER ON THE SUBJECT. AT PRESENT THE JUDICIARY #S PREDOMINANTLY EXPATRIATE AND IN MAKHING CHANGES HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S AM #KS TO CREATE CLIMATE IN WHICH MORE LOCAL LAWYERS OF HIGH STANDING WOLL BE ATTRACTED TO SERVE AS JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES. PLANS TAKE ACCOUNT OF SOME OF THE MAIN REASONS GIVEN BY LOCAL LAWYERS FOR NOT JOWNING THE JUDICIARY.
2. CHANGES ARE PLANNED ON THREE AREAS. FIRST, TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE JUDICINARY WILL BE SEPARATED FROM THOSE OF CANIL SERVICE. THIS IS TO ENABLE MATTERS CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE JUDMCĦARY TO BE PROCESSED WITHIN THE JUDHCHARY RATHER THAN THROUGH HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SECRETARÍMT. WIN ADDITION, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT- SECRETARIAT..
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT. IN ADDITION, HONG GOVERNMENT PLANS TO HINTRODUCE A SEPARATE PAY SCALE FOR MEMBERS OF THE JUDĦICHARY AND TO PROVIDE FOR THEWR PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE TO BE DETERMINED ON THE ADVICE OF A NEW STANDUNG COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
3. SECOND AREA IN WHICH CHANGES PLANNED CONCERNS CAREER SECURITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY,
4. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INTRODUCE A COMMON RETIREMENT AGE OF 65 FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY EXCEPT THAT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN THE DISTRICT COURT AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, RETIREMENT AGE OF 65 FOR DISTRICT JUDGES WILL ONLY APPLY TO THOSE APPOINTED AFTER 1
JANUARY 1987.