sickness absences; adds to recognised pressures and thus places an undue burden on the existing establishment whilst proving a disincentive to recruitment.
As there is no in-house reference room or library, or on-the-job development training within the Supreme Court complex, the absence of "refresher" or "update" facilities has meant that with but six exceptions all High Court interpreters have remained pegged at a certain level.
I enclose copies of various letters from The Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association underlining the fairness and reasonableness of the CIA's case.
Even more important is the support given especially at paragraph 4- by Mr Justice Li and Mr. Justice Yang, who acknowledge the vital link between Judge and interpreter - "without whom he can hardly carry out his duties in Court" and explaining why the duties of a High Court Judge in any trial were more onerous than those of a District Judge and thus justified a difference in rank and salary.
I would draw your attention to the third paragraph of page (3) of the Petition to the Governor since it stresses the experienced - and volunteered views of two highly respected Appeal Court Justices on improving the career structure of members of the CIA.
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I trust that this matter will receive full and fair consideration.
If the judicial system in Hong Kong fails for any reason before 1997, there can be little doubt but that such a break-down in the 'Western system'' will be maginified and manipulated.
I am sure that good sense, and a sensible structure, can be mutually agreed. After all, it has been in the melting pot for almost five
years.
You
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