TNAG-0700-FCO40-852-Appointment-of-District-and-High-Court-Judges-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 33

Mr Hall HKGD

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

Mrs Gregory HKGD

Gregory

Mr Rushford

T

Mr Quantrill

Junny/111

Mr McLaren

1

Reference ...HKA373/393/3....

29

I would have thought Ital Pokorny could look forward to beans, Director otheque fond (the holder is 56)

the mout that, MR. Banesate & 95/11

agree

Legal Advisers/6.11

agree:

HKGD On

HKGD

formed candidate

I understand that Pokorny. in the wiidence chance's of succuding Mayne presented here, there,

nit assured

Маў

can be no question but are that the recommendation is the right one. ARR

HONG KONG: VACANCY FOR A DISTRICT JUDGE

W. Chatill

16/11

1. In their letter of 3 November (folio 28), Civil Service Branch, on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission, recommend the promotion of Mr E C Barnes, Senior Magistrate, to the vacancy for a District Judge caused by Judge Addison's promotion in the Summer to Judge of the High Court. Mr Barnes is by no means the senior of the 158 eligible candidates (he has only been a Senior Magistrate since July 1977). However HKA 373/393/5 his last three reports (enclosed with folio 28) indicate

AMY NO. Shat he is outstanding. The reason that he is not, at 54, 16 NOV 1978

more senior in the Hong Kong Judiciary is that he only transferred from Australia in 1966 and left again early in

NOVED

LAOT

RET

NGE

R

JoJoom's fault of

Hong uống s - N Greek to

Bose of a

o/a.

лье

(28)

REGISTRY

ston ake

P.P. 1969 returning in 1970. He in fact has about ten years more

experience than the other five officers who were nominated

for consideration.

2. I attach the files of the five officers nominated but

not recommended. I have examined such reports as there are (we really are going to have to get tough with ODM's Registrar about the filing of confidential reports from Hong Kong) of the five Mr Von Pokorny seems to have the best claim to compete with Mr Barnes. He has already been turned down twice, I believe, for promotion to the Judiciary, although his superior, the Director of Legal Aid, Mr Mayne believes that he would make a first-class Judge. He is however only 43 and still has many chances of reaching the

Bench.

3. I propose therefore that we accept the recommendation that Mr Barnes be promoted. I attach a draft telegram.

Agreed. Telegram sent for despatch

$ alt

CODE 18-77

15 November 1978

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

NE GREEN Hong Kong & General Dept