August,
to such arrangements and considered that it would be far better if, when a Judge was required at Weihaiwei, a temporary appointment were made here for the time of his absence.
3.
447
I then referred the matter to the Attorney-General as to the legislation that would be necessary and I enclose a copy of a minute written by Sir Henry Berkeley in reply to this reference, in which he advises that I should recommend to you that Weihaiwei should be included within the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Hongkong and that the Supreme Court Bench should be strengthened by a third Judge. If Weihaiwei were a Dependency of Hongkong I should be prepared to recommend this arrangement which would make the required provision for the former place and at the same time be of some advantage to the latter. In existing circumstances however and in view of the fact that the judicial business of this Colony is at the present time satisfactorily carried out by two Judges, I am unable to support a scheme which would involve Hongkong in an additional expenditure of £1,200 per annum assuming that the Second Puisne Judge received the same pay as that which, I understand, is given to the subordinate Puisne Judges in the Straits Settlements.
4.
Reverting to the arrangement preferred by Sir William Goodman there appear to be two ways in which it could be carried out, viz.:-
1. The Chief Justice to go to Weihaiwei when required, his place being taken by the Attorney-General and a local practitioner being employed to fill the latter's office and being remunerated by a payment equal to one-half the Attorney-General's salary. The cost of this plan would be half the Chief Justice's salary paid to the Attorney-General in
August,
to such arrangements and considered that it would be far better
if, when a Judge was required at Weihaiwel, a temporary appoint-
ment were made here for the time of his absence.
3.
447
I then referred the matter to the Attorney-
General as to the legislation that would be necessary and I
enclose a copy of a minute written by Sir Henry Berkeley in
reply to this reference, in which he advises that I should
recommend to you that Weihaiwei should be included within the
Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Hongkong and
that the Supreme Court Bench should be strengthened by a third
Judge. If Weihaiwei were a Dependency of Hongkong I should be
prepared to recommend this arrangement which would make the
required provision for the former place and at the same time
be of some advantage to the latter. In existing circumstances
however and in view of the fact that the judicial business of
this Colony is at the present time satisfactorily carried out
by two Judges, I am unable to support a scheme which would
involve Hongkong in an additional expenditure of £1,200 per
annum assuming that the Second Fuisne Judge received the same
pay as that which, I understand, is given to the subordinate
Puisne Judges in the Straits Settlements.
4.
Reverting to the arrangement preferred by
Sir William Goodman there appear to be two ways in which it
could be carried out, viz.:-
1.
The Chief Justice to go to Weihaiwei when required, his place being taken by the Attorney- General and a local practitioner being employed to fill the latter's office and being remunerated by a payment equal to one-half the Attorney-General's salary. The cost of this plan would be half the Chief Justice's salary paid to the Attorney-General
in
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