CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 30110OZ FCO TELNO 329
OF 301015Z JANUARY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 373/1
31 JAN1989
ADVANCE COPY
FOR MORRIS HKD FROM BUNTEN APA(G)
COURT INTERPRETERS
1. FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED REPLY.
036003
MDADAN 5287
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Mc Fyforman
W 357
3011
2. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT THE PROSPECTS OF THE COURT INTERPRETER GRADE ARE LESS FAVOURABLE THAN THOSE OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICER GRADE. HOWEVER, IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT PROMOTION POSTS ARE CREATED ONLY WHERE THERE IS A FUNCTIONAL NEED. TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE FINANCIALLY UNJUSTIFIABLE. THUS, IF MORE SENIOR POSTS ARE TO BE CREATED IN THE COURT INTERPRETER GRADE, THIS MUST BE JUSTIFIED ON FUNCTIONAL GROUNDS AND NOT ON THE BASIS THAT PROMOTION PROSPECTS IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICER GRADE ARE MORE FAVOURABLE.
3. SOME COURT INTERPRETERS HAVE BEEN LEAVING TO JOIN OTHER GRADES BUT THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IN THE YEARS 1985 TO 1987 THERE WERE 32 VACANCIES IN THE COURT
for
INTERPRETER GRADES WHICH THERE WERE 3,506 APPLICANTS. [YOU WILL NOTE THAT ALL VACANCIES HAVE BEEN FILLED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
4. A RECENT SURVEY OF THE COURT INTERPRETER GRADE, BASED LARGELY UPON EXPERT ADVICE PROVIDED BY THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT ON THE LANGUAGE ASPECTS OF A COURT INTERPRETER'S WORK, RECOMMENDS THE UPGRADING OFFOUR POSTS OF COURT INTERPRETER I TO SENIOR COURT INTERPRETER TO DEAL WITH COMPLEX CASES AND THE CREATION OF TWO ADDITIONAL POSTS OF SENIOR COURT INTERPRETER TO STRENGTHEN SUPERVISION OF COURT INTERPRETERS I AND II. THIS HAS BEEN REJECTED BY THE COURT INTERPRETERS' ASSOCIATION WHO HAVE DEMANDED THE UPGRADING OF ALL POSTS IN THE HIGH COURT TO SENIOR INTERPRETER. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NOW REVIEWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SURVEY REPORT IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE COURT INTERPRETERS' ASSOCIATION. THE FACTORS WHICH ARE NOW BEING EXAMINED INCLUDE DOCK-SIDE INTERPRETATION, THE SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENCES TRIED IN THE HIGH COURT, THE PROPORTION OF COMPLEX CASES WHICH REQUIRE A SENIOR COURT INTERPRETER AND THE
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CONFIDENTIAL