CO129-356 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [4-6] — Page 518

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

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504

No one,

I venture to think, will

dispute the success of the similar system which at present

obtains here, under which Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, partner in a

Firm of local Solicitors, discharges with marked ability

the duties of Crown Solicitor.

The disadvantages of the system

are (a) the imperfect control exercised by Government over

the gentleman, who in one capacity is the servant of

Government and in another is a private and independent

professional man: and (b) the fact that such a system

deprives the Civil Service of one of the higher posts open

to those who have studied law with the necessary corollary

that the abler men in the Service who at present successfully

fill the lesser posts in the legal branch would

find less inducement to adopt that branch, unless with a

view to transfer to another Colony where this system did

not obtain, and the post of Attorney-General was filled

by a Civil Servant. It has been put forward as a further

objection that an Attorney-General who was free to engage

in private practice might find himself hampered in his

dual rôle, and might find his interests and obligations to

his clients and to Government at variance, but I am not

disposed to attach much importance to this point.

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504 No one, I venture to think, will dispute the success of the similar system which at present obtains here, under which Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, partner in a Firm of local Solicitors, discharges with marked ability the duties of Crown Solicitor. 5. The disadvantages of the system are (a) the imperfect control exercised by Government over the gentleman, who in one capacity is the servant of Government and in another is a private and independent professional man: and (b) the fact that such a system deprives the Civil Service of one of the higher posts open to those who have studied law with the necessary corollary that the abler men in the Service who at present successfully fill the lesser posts in the legal branch would find less inducement to adopt that branch, unless with a view to transfer to another Colony where this system did not obtain, and the post of Attorney-General was filled by a Civil Servant. It has been put forward as a further objection that an Attorney-General who was free to engage in private practice might find himself hampered in his dual rôle, and might find his interests and obligations to his clients and to Government at variance, but I am not disposed to attach much importance to this point. 6.

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: 504 No one, I venture to think, will dispute the success of the similar system which at present obtains here, under which Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, partner in a Firm of local Solicitors, discharges with marked ability the duties of Crown Solicitor. 5. The disadvantages of the system are (a) the imperfect control exercised by Government over the gentleman, who in one capacity is the servant of Government and in another is a private and independent professional man: and (b) the fact that such a system deprives the Civil Service of one of the higher posts open to those who have studied law with the necessary corollary 1 that the abler men in the Service who at present success" -fully fill the lesser posts in the legal branch would find less inducement to adopt that branch, unless with a view to transfer to another Colony where this system did not obtain, and the post of Attorney-General was filled by a Civil Servant. It has been put forward as a further objection that an Attorney-General who was free to engage in private practice might find himself hampered in his dual rôle, and might find his interests and obligations to his clients and to Government at variance, but I am not disposed to attach much importance to this point. 6.

2026-06-08 06:10:53 · Baseline

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504