CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2] — Page 64

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

The offices which come within the scope of the changes which I would propose, and which would certainly be beneficial to the community in general, are those of the

Chief Justice - salary $8,000 per annum
Attorney General - $6,000 per annum
Chief Magistrate - $3,000 per annum
Assistant Magistrate - $1,500 per annum (proposed to be increased to) $1,800 per annum (but later mentioned as) $1,000 per annum and then $600

The Chief Justice being the only judge in the Supreme Court, all civil and Criminal business must come to a stand still should he be incapacitated by sickness from the discharge of his duties. Such has actually been the case for at least ten weeks, with a probability of its continuance for at least another month, and with a limited Bar, as a Colonial one must always be, it is, I submit, disadvantageous

and inconvenient that the locum tenens of the Bench, when the necessity arises for such an appointment, should pass at once from the Bar without any training for his new duties. When a single judge was first appointed for this Colony the population did not amount to one sixth of its present number, and the fact that the Criminal Sessions have been increased from 4 times a year to twice & quarterly, will (not to mention many others easily adducible) show that the duties of the office have become much more numerous than they formerly were.

There are at present two Stipendiary Magistrates, the second of whom is also Sheriff, Coroner, and Marshal of the Vice Admiralty Court - a union of Offices such as, I presume, is not common in England.

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The offices which come within the scope of the changes which I would propose, and which would certainly be beneficial to the community in general, are those of the Chief Justice - salary $8,000 per annum Attorney General - $6,000 per annum Chief Magistrate - $3,000 per annum Assistant Magistrate - $1,500 per annum (proposed to be increased to) $1,800 per annum (but later mentioned as) $1,000 per annum and then $600 The Chief Justice being the only judge in the Supreme Court, all civil and Criminal business must come to a stand still should he be incapacitated by sickness from the discharge of his duties. Such has actually been the case for at least ten weeks, with a probability of its continuance for at least another month, and with a limited Bar, as a Colonial one must always be, it is, I submit, disadvantageous and inconvenient that the locum tenens of the Bench, when the necessity arises for such an appointment, should pass at once from the Bar without any training for his new duties. When a single judge was first appointed for this Colony the population did not amount to one sixth of its present number, and the fact that the Criminal Sessions have been increased from 4 times a year to twice & quarterly, will (not to mention many others easily adducible) show that the duties of the office have become much more numerous than they formerly were. There are at present two Stipendiary Magistrates, the second of whom is also Sheriff, Coroner, and Marshal of the Vice Admiralty Court - a union of Offices such as, I presume, is not common in England.
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The offices which enue within the scope of the changes which I would propove, and which would certainly "be beneficial to the community in? general, are thine of the Chief Justice - salvay Lam Attorney General Chief Magistrate " کی ہو 1500 1000 Assistant Magistrate. 600 The Chief Justice being the may judge in the Supreme Court, all civil and Criminal business must enne to a stand still should he be meapacitated by sichness from the discharge of his Antics __ Such how actually been the eave for the least ten weekes, with a probability of its coutimane for at least another mouth, and with a limited Bor, as a Colmal one must always he, it is, Semwider, disadvantagens C 3 63 its present and inconvenient that the loemnitenens. of the Bench, when the necessity arises for such an appointuent, shaild pas at nice from the bear without any training for his new duties. When a single judge wow first appointed for this Colony the population did not amount to me Sixth of its number, and the fact that the Criminal Sessions have been increased from 4 times a year to mice & punithe, will (not to mention many othered easily adducible) shew that the duties of the office have become much pure merous than they formerly There are at present two Hipendiary Magistrates, the second of sohon is alss Sheriff, Corner, and Marshal of the tice Adsuiralty Cart a mion of Officers schuiche, com in themy, Avere.
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The offices which enue within the scope of the changes which I would propove, and which would certainly "be beneficial to the community in? general, are thine of the

Chief Justice - salvay Lam Attorney General Chief Magistrate

"

کی ہو

1500

1000

Assistant Magistrate. 600 The Chief Justice being the may judge in the Supreme Court, all civil and Criminal business must enne to a stand still should he be meapacitated

by sichness from the discharge of his Antics __ Such how actually been the eave for the least ten weekes, with a probability of its coutimane for at least another mouth, and with a limited Bor, as a Colmal one must always he, it is, Semwider, disadvantagens

C

3

63

its present

and inconvenient that the loemnitenens. of the Bench, when the necessity arises for such an appointuent, shaild pas at nice from the bear without any training for his new duties. When a single judge wow first appointed for this Colony the population did not amount to me Sixth of its number, and the fact that the Criminal Sessions have been increased from 4 times a year to mice & punithe, will (not to mention many othered easily adducible) shew that the duties of the office have become much pure merous than they formerly

There are at present two Hipendiary Magistrates, the second of sohon is alss Sheriff, Corner, and Marshal of the tice Adsuiralty Cart a mion of Officers schuiche, com in themy,

Avere.

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