SONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
Sir James McPetrie, K.C.M.G., O.B.E.,
The Commonwealth Office,
Downing Street,
LONDON, S.W.1.
Cey
dea
(damcist,
CHIEF JUSTICE'S CHAMBERS,
COURTS OF JUSTICE.
HONG KONG,
23rd July, 1969.
It was good of you to go to so much trouble in putting to Moreton a suggestion about seeking the services of a distinguished English Q.C. as a possible solution to our problem over the recommendation for the appointment of Chief Justice at the end of the year. I must confess that, on first hearing, I did not warm to the suggestion; second thoughts made me feel that there was more in it than had at first appreciated but further reflection brought me back to the view that it would leave not only resentment amongst those most directly concerned but also a more widely diffused measure of general dissatisfaction throughout the service, which would be less readily dissipated. Had it been possible to obtain a High Court Judge of appropriate quality on secondment, particularly if this was accompanied by some measure of secondment from here, even if that had to be at a lower level, such as District Court to County Court, I think the resentment would be much less a suggestion of this kind was mooted some years ago but I imagine there would be considerable difficulty in making such an arrangement.
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The time and thought which you have given to the matter and your readiness to help is much appreciated but it looks as if the difficult choice between Rigby and Blair-Kerr may still have to be faced.
We have, however, been wondering whether there might be a candidate more suitable than either from outside Hong Kong. The brief look at the prospects when I was in London left me with the impression that this was unlikely but I wonder if there are any avenues leading in this direction that could still be explored. The field covered by our service is now somewhat limited but you, of course, know it very much better than I do.
whose I have, from time to time, heard good accounts of Hammett, appointment as a Puisne Judge pre-dates that of Rigby, although he
RETO IN
R GLTRY Nɔ.51
-1 AUG 1969
MICK 14/25
Cont'd
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