TNAG-0700-FCO40-852-Appointment-of-District-and-High-Court-Judges-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 42

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

INDIV

DERMOT RENN DAVIS OBE

He

Mr Davis was born in Mold, Kenya on 20 December 1928. is married. He was educated at Pembroke House, Gilgil, Kenya, the Prince of Wales School, Nairobi, and at Oxford University where he obtained' a 'BA Hons 2nd Class (Law) in 1952.

(Law) in 1952. He was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1952.

!

From 1953-54 he was employed by Daly and Figgis, a firm of advocates in Nairobi, after which he served for two years with the Kenya Police Reserve and was seconded to the Attorney-General's

· Office.

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From 1956 Mr Davis served as Crown Counsel with the Kenya Legal Department, until 1962 when he transferred to the Solomon Islands as Assistant Attorney General. In the following year he - was promoted to Attorney-General,

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Mr Davis transferred to the New Hebrides in 1973 on appointment as Judge of the High Courts of the Western Pacific. He acted as Chief Justice from June 1975 until March 1976 when he was permanently transferred to the Solomon Islands as Chief Justice of the Solomon Islands. He is also a non-resident Judge of the High Courts at the Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu. He was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours List 1971.

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In his last Confidential Report from the New Hebrides Mr Davis is described as always being courteous, patient and understanding both with other officers and the public, The following is an extract from his report by the British Resident Commissioner:-

"The relations he has established with his French colleague has made a reality of the Joint Court at a particularly important juncture. ... He is always available for informal consultation and the advice he gives when asked is invariably sound and penetrating."

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MARCH 1978

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