TNAG-0262-FCO40-298-Appointments-to-judiciary-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 25

Confidential

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JJKK 14 TX 1968 9

are under consideration".

Although this does not constitute

a commitment to appoint somebody from the Bar, Mr. de Basto will no doubt take it that way. I cannot however see any harm in this because it was agreed when the Governor was here last

autumn that even where there was a Service candidate suitable

for promotion to the Supreme Court Bench it might occasionally be desirable to advance someone from the Hong Kong Bar who had extensive experience of private practice, particularly at a time

when there was more than one vacancy to be filled. A suitable opportunity will occur in 1972/73 because Sir I. Rigby and

Messrs Scholes, Blair-Kerr and Mills-Owens will all have reached retirement age within three years.

10. On the question of pensions, it will be necessary to work out suitable arrangements for anybody appointed to the Bench from the Bar but it should be possible to do this without giving Judges appointed from the Bar better terms than those given to

career officers.

1. The ODM were consulted about this aspect of the matter in 1969 but we have nothing on record to show that they ever sent us their considered views. I shall remind them of our request for advice of a year ago.

EMaria

ай

(E. 0. Laird)

Hong Kong Department

20 October, 1970

Confidential