TNAG-0352-FCO40-388-Appointments-to-judiciary-of-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 60

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(e) Mr. Sneath considers that the members of the legal and

judicial service would much prefer to see a member of the

public service' outside Hong Kong appointed to the Supreme

Court bench rather than Mr. Jackson-Lipkin.

If Rigby comes to see me shortly (as I understand he intends to do)

he may of course disclose his intentions as to when he should leave

2.

Hong Kong. The Governor of course may also have views on this.

3. It occurs to me that perhaps some of these matters should be

discussed with the Governor (without attribution to Mr. Sneath) in the proposed letter to him. Presumably We shall in any case have to write

to him about the implications of the Hong Kong bar association's letter,

and perhaps also the possibility of appointing Mr. Justice Trainor,

before deciding how the two judicial vacancies should be filled.

4. As regards Trainor, I should also say that, when I was speaking to him recently Mr. Laird said (understandably) he was anxious to avoid

turning down Hong Kong's first recommendation for an appointment from

the local Bar, since it was this Office that pressed a reluctant

Hong Kong Government to accept in principle that such appointments

should be considered. Obviously any communication to the Governor

about Trainor or any of the other matters mentioned must be very

tactfully phrased.

5. In case it is of use I have set out the retiring ages of the

existing Supreme Court judges and current candidates for Senior Chief

judgships as attached.

30 June 1972

A.RR

AR RUSHFORD

DEPUTY LEGAL ADVISER

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