WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983
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+IN PARTICULAR THEY MUST NOT IMPOSE THE JUDGMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS UPON THOSE WHO TAKE THE RISKS. THUS IN SO FAR AS IT IS POSSIBLE SELF REGULATION IS TO BE PREFERRED.+
MR BREMRIDGE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT SOUGHT TO PROVIDE A STABLE AND CONSISTENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, IT WAS A CONTINUOUS TASK TO ENSURE THAT THE FRAMEWORK REMAINED APPROPRIATE TO CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
+HONG KONG IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, AND WE THUS MUST SHOULDER INCREASING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS - INCLUDING THE MAINTENANCE OF CONFIDENCE..
MR BREMRIDGE SAID HONG KONG'S POSITION AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE HAD REMAINED STRONG DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES RECENTLY EXPERIENCED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. +TO ENSURE THAT THIS REMAINS THE CASE IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES AND TO PROMOTE FURTHER ADVANCES, I AM DETERMINED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE FINANCIAL AND RELATED SERVICES SECTOR OPERATES WILL BE SUBJECT TO CONSTANT REVIEW.
+ IF IT EMERGES THAT FURTHER CHANGES ARE DESIRABLE, THEY WILL BE INTRODUCED.+
HOWEVER, HE ASSURED THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT THAT ANY SUDDEN OR DRÁSTIC CHANGES WOULD BE REQUIRED, AND THAT HE REGARDED THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS IN HONG KONG AS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JOHN GRIFFITHS QC, WILL LEAVE THE SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN JUNE 1983 TO RESUME HIS PRACTICE AT THE ENGLISH BAR. MR GRIFFITHS TOOK UP HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT IN MAY 1979 FROM ENGLAND.
HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY MR MICHAEL THOMAS QC WHOSE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.
MR THOMAS IS 49 YEARS OF AGE. AFTER NATIONAL SERVICE IN THE ROYAL NAVY, HE GRADUATED AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS WITH AN LLB DEGREE IN 1954. HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY MIDDLE TEMPLE IN 1955 AND BECAME A HARMSWORTH LAW SCHOLAR IN 1957. HE IS A BENCHER OF HIS INN.
HE HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE AT THE ENGLISH BAR SINCE 1957 AND WAS APPOINTED A QUEEN'S COUNSEL IN 1973. HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS JUNIOR COUNSEL TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (ROYAL NAVY) AND ALSO TO THE TREASURY IN ADMIRALTY MATTERS FROM 1966 TO 1973.
HIS PRACTICE HAS BROUGHT HIM TO HONG KONG ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN RECENT YEARS. HIS INTERESTS INCLUDE MUSIC AND TRAVEL.
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