CONFIDENTIAL
布政司署
香港下亞畢道
BY FAX (LETTER ONLY) &
BY DIPLOMATIC BAG
54
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
Pls CXAM99
all includiip
**** OUR Ref :
(11) in CSO/ADM/CR 3/3222/88(92) Pt 3
來函檔號 YOUR REF :
Ms Emma Williams
Hong Kong Department
HKA 373/1
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom
4 September, 1992
US SEP 1992
Dear Ms Williams,
enclosures to
Miss Brooks, Legal
Counsellor.
You may like to look at HK's proposed Judicial Officers (security of Tenute) Bill plus the other annexes to Ms Ip's letter of 14 Mr Store 4G Judicial Officers (Security of Tenure) Bill annexes
and Localisation of the Justice of the Peace (JP) System
2
53.
to note,
April.
have arrived
3
p.a.plo
I
Thank you for your letter of 24 August 1992. enclose a copy of Mrs Ip's letter dated 14 April 1992 and enclosures as requested.
We have considered the possibility of combining the two amendments to the Letters Patent in one instrument. The difficulty is that the timing of the two Bills does not match. While we are reasonably certain that the Judicial Officers (Security of Tenure) Bill will go to LegCo in November 1992, we are not as certain about the timing of the introduction of the Localisation of the JP Bill. We need to consult the Governor personally on this subject before seeking ExCo's advice, and to consult the Chinese on the draft bill. All this takes time and it is hard to say precisely when we would be able to clear all these hurdles.
On the other hand, given that Chinese agreement to the security of tenure for judicial officers was secured in September 1988, we are keen to get on with the enactment of the necessary legislation to give effect to the agreement. We would not wish to see commencement of the Judicial Officers (Security of Tenure) Bill further delayed because of the localisation of JP exercise.
We would therefore prefer to see separate instruments to amend the Letters Patent for the purposes of the two different exercises. But if there is any chance of combining the two amendments in one instrument (e.g. if the Judicial Officers (Security of Tenure) Bill got bogged down in LegCo), we will certainly let you know.
3/9
CONFIDENTIAL
.. P 2