TNAG-0314-FCO40-350-Appointments-to-judiciary-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 96

Reference

19

Mr Clewley

APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES TO THE SUPREME COURT IN HONG KONG

1.

I mentioned at Sir L Monson's meeting this afternoon the situation that has arisen over the announcement of the appointment of Mr Justice Blair- Kerr as Senior Puisne Judge Hong Kong. In spite of the fact that appointments to the Supreme Court of a Dependent Territory are made in the name of The Queen (the appointments appear in the London Gazette) it seems that in most of the Dependent Territories the announcement of appointments is made locally and not in London. In many cases of course the appointment is made after consultation with some local body.

2.

Leslie Monson suggested I might have a word with Sir James McPetrie about this before the latter retired. I spoke to Sir J McPetrie on the telephone this afternoon and explained the situation. He assumed that the old Colonial Office practice had been based on the fact that it was proper that an appointment made by The Queen should be announced in London first or at least at the same time as it was announced anywhere else in the world. However he did not think the point important.

3. In the circumstances, and since Hong Kong made a fuss a year or two ago over getting the procedure right, (there are papers about this) I think I had better write to the Colonial Secretary to clear the matter up. I think we might fairly ask what procedure they would like to follow in the future after drawing their attention to their own desire to arrange for the synchronisation of the announcement of appointments in Hong Kong and in London. Would you please draft?

22 June 1971

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department

Pl

p.u.

with

карико

refeaned to at X.

m blewlen

226

Please see Hagged item on files

attached

Alhaal

28

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