No. 76.
1661939
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
3rd February, 1939.
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that I have
been considering for some time the question of the
placing of the police magistrates sitting in the police
courts for Victoria and Kowloon in this Colony under the
Chief Justice for disciplinary purposes, as is the case
in many other dependencies.
2.
His Honour the Chief Justice has indicated
his consent to such an arrangement.
3.
I enclose a copy of instructions which have
been issued to give effect to the new arrangement.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,
&C.,
&c.,
&C.
God. Anthest
Governor.
P
P
COPY.
4
END
4
Registrar, Supreme Court.
Police Magistrate, Hong Kong.
Police Magistrate, Kowloon.
1.
His Excellency the Governor, with the concurrence
of His Honour the Chief Justice, has decided that the
Magistrates at Hong Kong and Kowloon shall in future be
placed under the general disciplinary control of the
Chief Justice.
2.
In future estimates the Magistracies will cease
to be, as at present, independent Heads of Estimates but
will be grouped, together with the subdepartment "Supreme
Court" (see page 55 of the printed estimates for 1939),
in a combined subdepartment of the Head "Legal Department"
to be designated "Judicial".
3.
Pending such formal reconstruction the
Magistrates will for all purposes except paysheets consider
themselves as subordinate to the Chief Justice, to whom
should be referred through the Registrar all such
questions as leave, posting, reliefs, promotion and
discipline generally.
4.
The Magistrates will no doubt take full
advantage of this subordination in seeking advice on legal
questions.
(Sgd.) N.L. Smith
Colonial Secretary.
3.2.1939.
53984