6
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paragraph (d) of sub-clause (1) of clause 4 should only exceptionally
be dealt with by legal officers. A reservation is accordingly
provided in the concluding sentence of the clause.
5. As a corollary to the amalgamation of the Attorney General's
and Crown Solicitor's departments it is convenient that the functions
now by law vested in the Crow Solicitor should be formally vested
in the Attorney General leaving it to the latter to delegate either
to the Crown Solicitor or to some other legal officer. Clauses 7
and 10 of the Bill so provide.
6. It is usual in other Colonics by law to accord to the
Attorney General and his deputy, the Solicitor General, the same
rights as are accorded to the Attorney General and Solicitor General
in England. This practice has been observed in Hong Kong in the
case of the Attorney General without express provision but the
appointment of Solicitor General has recently been established in
Hong Kong. Express provision (clause 5) has accordingly been made.
As the Attorney General's deputy the Solicitor General is authorized
by clause 8 to act for the Attorney General subject to the limitations
specified in such clause.
7. Under various Ordinances the fiat or consent of the
Attorney General is necessary for the initiation of a prosecution.
Clause 9 is designed to facilitate proof of such flat or consent.
J. B. GRIFFIN
Attorney General,