CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 471

8

there exist but few leading Counsel in the Colony, the interests of solicitors and their clients could not suffer because of such vacation provided that, during its continuance, the ordinary business of the Courts (with the exception only of the trial of, and the filing of plead- ings in actions not requiring to be immediately disposed of) were allow- ed to be proceeded with The question having been thoroughly thrashed out at the meeting it was unanimously resolved that the Law Society had no objection to the extension of the vacation upon the nuder- standing that regulations were made for the carrying out the ordinary business of the Courts, other than that mentioned and for a right of audience being giving to solicitors, if necessary, during the vacation, -I ani, &c.,

The Secretary, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG LAW SOCIETY,

HONGKONG, 22nd February, 1908.

SIR-Supreme Court Vacation. In consequence of the reference to vacations of the Supreme Court which appeared under the above heading in the report of the General Committee of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce for the year 1907, a meeting of the members of the Hongkong Law Society convened by the Committee thereof, was held yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering the alterations proposed by the Chief Justice in the vacations of the Supreme Court, which had already been considered by my Committee. At such meeting certain resolutions were passed, which will be forwarded by my Com- mittee to your Chamber in due course.

I may add that the above meeting of which all the members of the Society had notice, was a thoroughly representative one and the resolu tions may be taken to represent the views of all the solicitors practisieg in this Colony,-I have, etc..

+++

9

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCH, HONGKONG, 22nd February, 1908.

SIR-1 am instructed by my Committee to inform you in reply to your letter of the 19th instant to its Chairman that—

1. It is unable to admit that any such innuendo as you imagine is conveyed in the Committee's Minutes and in any case no innuendo was intended.

2. In my Committee's opinion Section 3 of your letter is erroncons and casts personalities at its Chairman which my Committee consider entirely undeserved. This introduction of personalities into the discus- sion of a proposed extension of the Vacations of the Supreme Court is the more regrettable when it might confidently have been supposed that the convenience of the public and that of those immediately concerned would have had unbiassed attention.

3. My Committee having been asked by His Excellency the Governor to state their views did so after due enquiry and is responsible for them and for the method of its enquiry only to the Members of the Chamber.

4. Having since the receipt of your letter received one from the Honorary Secretary of the Law Society and another from a Solicitor dated to-day (which are published in the supplementary Appendix to the Chamber's Report) my Committee has nothing further to add.-- I have, &c.,

E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary,

His Hon. Sir FRANCIS T. PIGGOTT, Chief Justice.

A. H. G. JACKSON,

Hon. Secretary.

The Secretary, HONGKONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

468