TNAG-0314-FCO40-350-Appointments-to-judiciary-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 37

John Tilney, Esq., M.P

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1

03

29th September, 1971.

(

that with the establishment of a Law Department at the Hong Kong University in September 1969, the University would

very soon be producing law graduates who would have received their entire legal training locally. Although (surprisingly)

provisions even now have not yet been made for their

absorption within the two branches of the profession (barristers and solicitors), the Bar at any rate has always supported the view that with a Fourth Year Post-Graduate

course and a further year of pupillage in professional

Chambers, a graduate from Hong Kong University should be able to practise as a barrister in Hong Kong. If this proposal is implemented (and its rejection would appear unthinkable) serious thought must now be given to the career prospects of

these young men and especially the more brilliant ones.

What is disturbing is that to-date, there has been no sign whatever from London that any change might be effected in the system of appointments to the Supreme Court and District

Court Benches exclusively from the ranks of the Civil Service.

The argument that local appointments would demoralize the lower

echelon of the judiciary rings hollow when it is seen that the

judiciary is having to expand to cope with an increasing volume

of work brought about by the economic boom (a boom which, it

might be said, the legal profession in some measure helped to create by standing firm through the unsettled years of 1967 and 1968). What is more, this argument pre-supposes some vested right to promotion through the ranks of the judiciary.

I do not know whether this is a matter which might interest the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group. Some clarification

from the Secretary of State as to what precisely is the policy

with regard to appointments to the Bench in the near future

cont.

"