TNAG-0430-FCO40-495-Appointments-of-membership-of-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Ko-1974 — Page 18

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PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, BUT OTHERWISE IS NOT SUBJECT TO INTERFERENCE BY THE EXECUTIVE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGARDED AS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS ASPECT OF A COMMISSIONER'S FUNCTIONS CLEAR AND DISTINCT FROM THE AREAS IN WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR GOVERNMENT MAY PROPERLY DIRECT HIM, E.G. IN REGARD TO MATTERS AFFECTING THE SIZE AND ORGANISATION OF THE POLICE FORCE, OR BROAD POLICY WITHIN THE SPHERE OF THE GOVERNOR'S OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERNAL SECURITY. IF SLEVIN WERE TO EXPRESS DOUBTS ABOUT THE LIKELY EFFECT OF THE APPOINTMENT ON HIS PERSONAL STANDING AS COMMISSIONER IN THIS RESPECT, WE THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE WEIGHT TO HIS VIEW.

4. LORD GORONWY ROBERTS WOULD WISH YOU TO MAKE SLEVIN'S APPOINTMENT FOR A PROVISIONAL YEAR IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. THIS MAY BE HELPFUL FOR SLEVIN HIMSELF AND WITH OTHER ADVISERS WHOM YOU MAY STILL HAVE TO SOUND, AND COULD ASSIST IN HANDLING ANY CRITICAL COMMENT THAT MAY ARISE WHILE THE ARRANGEMENT IS UNDER FROOF.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

NKIOD

LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

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