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are not likely to be popular in Japan, because they constitute an attack upon the Japanese system and a criticism of professional standards in Japan both of bench and bar. Japan's weakness as regards administration of justice and legal training is often ascribed to the fact that she learnt her legal ideas and legal standards in the United States. How far this is a fair criticism I do not know. But I believe Masujima is right in thinking that the country which is now best qualified to help China in the colossal task of building up a new legal system and new Courts for the administration of justice is Great Britain.
One word more as to Masujima: I cannot help feeling that there is some significance (at least from the sentimental point of view) in the fact that this suggestion of securing help from the Inns of Court in the legal and judicial reconstruction of China comes from a Japanese who is himself an old and devoted member of one of the Inns, and seems to have spent a lot of money in trying to pass on to his own countrymen British ideas and standards as to the study and practice of the law.
Now, as to what is practicable. It is impossible for many Chinese law students to go to England, and, except in the case of selected men who receive special supervision, it is quite possible they might get more harm than good as individual students in London. Cressy's idea was that something could be done by the introduction of British personnel to improve the condition of the Law School here, which is conducted, I understand, under the University of Socchow. I have not been able to enquire carefully into the condition of this Law School, but what I have heard of it is not in its favour, and I very much doubt the feasibility of effective measures of reform. I think, from what I hear of the Chinese Bar Association in Shanghai, and of the hopeless lack of decent professional standards, that it would be extremely difficult to reform the traditions of the Chinese bar and bench by a law school established in Shanghai which was exposed to the present unfavourable atmosphere. I think there would be a better chance of doing something effective from a place like Hongkong, which is close to China, but which is not actually under the Chinese Government, and sufficiently far removed not to be subject in the same degree to the Chinese atmosphere.
I
During this visit which I have just paid to Hongkong I have consulted Hornell, the Vice-Chancellor of the Hongkong University, Sir Henry Gollan, who has just retired from the Chief Justiceship and who is now on his way to England, and Professor Robertson, one of the professors of the Hongkong University who gives lectures on law to students who are taking their degree in commerce. I was glad to find that all three were enthusiastic about the idea of a law school in the University of Hongkong. put it to Hornell that this was perhaps the biggest contribution
I that the University could make to the salvation of China. suggested to him that the Law School, if established, should deliberately set itself to the study of these new Chinese codes, and should make it its aim to give the Chinese law students a proper understanding of these codes and of the legal principles which they embody. I said that no doubt the task was an immensely difficult one that it would take a long time to
and that there was a risk at the produce any great improvement outset of some opposition and criticism from Nationalist quarters in China, but I said that if an honest attempt were made to
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