CO129-603-7 Legal Department- reorganisation 18-2-1948 - 19-10-1949 — Page 5

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establishment of a post of Senior Magistrate.

Paragraph 7.

Mr. Griffin sees no objection to using the title "Legal Officer" merely to describe all the officers appointed to2 Geylon to hold legal posts, and giving each of them some other office. Those working under the Registrar-General would be called "Assistant Registrar-General". The reason for suggesting the title "Senior Legal Officer" was that the intention is to establish a grade to which a senior man on the long scale could be promo ted, though it was felt that he should be given some promotion after many years' service when there appears to be no othar prospect of advaneement. This title was suggested in order to provide flexibility: the person se le cted for such promotion might be oslat as Magistrate on Crown Counsel or Legal Draftsman (He would be very similar to a Senior Crown Counsel in Nigeria, who does not necessarily do work which is radically different from that of the other Crown Counsel.)

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In these circumstances Mr. Griffin agrees that it is unnecessary to

the title "Senior Legal Officer" a post.

a post. When the present Crown Solicitor leaves the service of Hong Kong, his post will be abolished and the grade of Senior Legal Officer will be established. (The proposal is to have only one officer on this grade; it would of course be possible later to increase the number if this were thought desirable).

Paragraph 9.

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Mr. Griffin agrees that the revision/should have the undivided attention of one man, and this is the intention. The assumption in my minute as regards the arrangements contemplated, is correct. Mr. Griffin appreciates that the Hong Kong Legal draftsmen ould look for promotion elsewhere.

Paragraph 10.

It is only for establishment purposes that the Registrar-General's department is intended to be subordinate to that of the Attorney-General.

Paragraph 12.

There is a mistake in the despatch -"£1755" should read "£1830".

The explanation of the discrepancy between paragraphs 3 and 12, is that there is a fourth Assistant Registrar-General mentioned in paragraph 13.

Paragraph 15.

Mr. Griffin appreciates this point; but,I understood, thinks that Municipal Council post might be attractive to a local man.

29.

6. 48.