CO129-460 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [1-4] — Page 167

CÓPY.

Chief Justice' Chambers,

Supreme Court, Hongkong,

sir,

17th February, 1920.

166

I have the honour to address Your Excellency on the subject of the impending vaomcy in the Full Court on the resigna- -tion of Sir Havilland de Sausmarez.

Sir Havilland contemplates taking twelve months' leave in April next, prior to retiring from the position of Judge

of His Britannic Majesty's Supreme Court for China.

A period of time will therefore elapse before his successor will be appointed, and it will be necessary to secure the services temporarily of a Judge to sit in the Full Court. I would therefore respectfully suggest that if and when the services of a Judge are required in the interval, Your Excellency should appoint His Honour Judge Skinner Turner, the Assistant Judge in China to act. Such appointment would require the approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

This course may be adopted by Your Excellency ex- -ercising the power vested in you by the Full Court Ordinances, 1912 and 1915, of appointing a barrister of not less than seven years standing temporarily, from time to time, for the purposes of

the Ordinance.

I would point out for Your Excellency's information that although the language of the Ordinance is couched in general terms, it was I believe contemplated that the appointment should be regarded as personal to Sir Havilland de Sausmarez in the circumstances then existing, and it was not intended to bind this Government to accept absolutely his successor.

The question of whether Your Excellency will regard the appointment of Sir Havilland's successor to sit in the Appeal

Court

dis Excellency

Sir Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G.,

&C..

&c.,

&c... Governor.