TNAG-0701-FCO40-854-Appointment-of-Attorney-General-and-Solicitor-General-in-Hon-1978 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

IN THE EXECUTIVE FIELD, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

THE PROVISION OF THE BULK OF THE LEGAL SERVICES REQUIRED BY THE

GOVERNMENT. THIS INCLUDES THE TRADITIONAL INDEPENDENT RESPONSIBIL- ITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE IN THE CIVIL FIELD AND RESPON- SIBILITY FOR LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING. MY CHAMBERS THEREFORE COMBINES IN A SINGLE CENTRALISED ORGANISATION THE ROLES OF YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, THE TREASURY SOLICITOR AND OTHER DEPARTMENTAL LEGAL ADVISERS AND THE OFFICE OF PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL, AND SOME OF THE ROLES OF THE HOME SECRETARY. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE LONG-TERM PRISONERS BOARD OF REVIEW: HE HAS RESPONSIBLITIES IN THE FIELD OF LEGAL EDUCATION: HE IS A MEMBER OF TWO GROUPS (OTHERWISE COMPRISED WHOLLY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL) WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST

THE POLICE FORCE AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION: HE IS A MEMBER OF THE OPERATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (A BODY WHICH MONITORS THE INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT OF THE COMMISSION): HE IS A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, WHICH ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS.

YOU WILL RECOGNISE FROM THIS SELECTION OF HIS ACTIVITIES THE

DIVERSITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH CALL FOR A LAWYER WITH BROAD EXPERIENCE. FOR OUR PART, WE RECOGNISE THAT WE ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND ANY ONE MAN WITH THE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE WHICH ALL THIS SUGGESTS. THE OLD COLONIAL LEGAL SERVICE

WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY ORGANISATION WHICH PRODUCED SUCH LAWYERS LAWYERS WHO WERE JACKS OF ALL TRADES AND PROBABLY MASTERS OF NONE. MY OWN PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE WAS PRINCIPALLY IN THE FIELD OF LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING BEFORE I TOOK UP THIS APPOINTMENT, BUT THE PATTERN OF SERVICE IN A COLONIAL ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUCH THAT ONE NECESSARILY ATTAINS SOME DEGREE OF

EXPERTISE IN MOST NON-SPECIALISED LEGAL FIELDS.

IN RECOGNITION OF THIS, AND IN ANTICIPATION OF MY RETIREMENT,

I HAVE PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS FOR A MAJOR REORGANISATION OF MY OFFICE. SUCH A REORGANISATION HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO MEET THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG TODAY, WHICH HAVE LITTLE IN COMMON WITH FORMER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. THESE CHANGES, WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED, INCLUDE IN PARTICULAR

1

/ THE ABOLITION

N

2.

CONFIDENTIAL