TNAG-0314-FCO40-350-Appointments-to-judiciary-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 115

Mr Laird

In Beiley.

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I attach an extract from a letter of 9 February from Sir Jocelyn Bodilly, Chief Justice Western Pacific, and an extract from my reply. Would you please have these entered on an appropriate file in your department.

14/4

2. Sir Jocelyn (who had once been a High Court Judge in the Sudan) was a Senior Crown Counsel in Hong Kong at the time when he was appointed C.J. Western Pacific. He might, therefore, be regarded as having been promoted C.J. out of turn. The fact is, however, that the appointment of C.J. Western Pacific is not easy to fill

for it is professionally unattractive, living conditions are primitive and communications poor. Sir Jocelyn has proved himself a good C.J. and has faced all the difficulties and inconveniences with great cheerfulness. We are grateful to him for his performance, he deserves a change and could well be included in the field of candidates for a Hong Kong vacancy. But if the field included a good candidate from the District Court who was nearing the age of retirement (which is 55 for a District Judge) one could hardly justify passing him over in favour of Sir Jocelyn Bodilly.

13 April 1971

Copy to:

Mr Fifoot

JCHOP.

JC McPetrie