7
of audience before the High Court in Criminal Bessions.
Criminal defences are very few, here as in
Summary
most other places criminals have no money.
Jurisdiction work which corresponds to County Court work
in England is conducted entirely by aolicitors junior
members of the bar get no opportunities for work there.
During the last 12 months there was so far as my
recollection goes only one case in which Counsel appeared
in the Summary Court and then it was a local K.C. who
appeared without a junior as Colonial K.C.'s are entitled
to do. Unless the two professions are joined I see
no possibility of any junior coming out from England and
making even an existence. The only members of the bar
in future must be Hong Kong men
Portuguese, and may be Indian.
remain in Hong Kong permanently.
Chinese, Eurasian,
Few Englishmen ever
You can count the
number on the fingers of one hand and then have some to
spare. The question then arises - Is this what the
Government of England desire” If so, then nothing need
be done but if it be the policy of H.l. Covernment to
induce English barristers to go out to the Colony then I
see only one way to accomplish this and that is by
fusion of the professions as has been done everywhere
else in the East. English Solicitors are brought out by
some firms on a salary basis and often become partners in
the firm.
If the policy of Hall. Government is to do
otherwise than enc urage young English barristers to come
Bust then please put this in the waste paper basket.
No steps are likely to be taken by the A.G. here
in putting forward any legislation in the matter unless
the Colonial Office should direct it.
The