TNAG-0314-FCO40-350-Appointments-to-judiciary-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 53

HKK 14/14

Reference

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Mr Shaw (Dependent Territories General Department)

HONG KONG JUDICIARY: PENSIONS

1.

I think you may wish to see the proposals in Mr Rushford's minute to me of 10 August. The problem of deciding upon appropriate arrangements for pensions awarded to judges appointed from the local Bar to the Supreme Court of Hong Kong has arisen because it has been decided, as a matter of policy, that an appointment from the Bar might be justifiable from time to time.

2.

You will see from my minute to Mr Rushford of

4 August that the ODA have been looking into this question for some time. Their views are set out in the 2 letters flagged B & C. Mr Rushford's ideas certainly break new ground but it seems to me that we shall have to break new ground in a number of respects in connection with the future conditions of service for officers serving in the remaining dependent territories. I would like to put Mr Rushford's proposals to Hong Kong and ask them if they can see any local difficulties in introducing a scheme like this. Will there be any repercusions elsewhere if we do this?

3. I should perhaps add that as far as I am aware there is no intention in Hong Kong of recommending any appointment in the near future of somebody from the Bar to the Supreme Court. We can therefore consider this at our leisure. I hope however that we can get something to Hong Kong before too long in view of the length of time it has taken the ODA to produce their views.

11 August 1971

日

Maria

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department

DD 737719 557664 500M 2/71 GM 3643/2