TNAG-0701-FCO40-854-Appointment-of-Attorney-General-and-Solicitor-General-in-Hon-1978 — Page 81

CONFIDENTIAL

AS FAR AS PERSONAL QUALITIES ARE CONCERNED, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE OF ABOUT 48/52 YEARS OF AGE, WITH AT LEAST 20 YEARS' STANDING AT THE BAR, WE NEED A MAN OF AUTHORITY AND STRONG CHARACTER, WHO WILL REMAIN UNRUFFLED IN THE FACE OF FREQUENTLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND OFTER UNJUST CRITICISMS FROM PRESS, PUBLIC AND ELSEWHERE, SENSITIVENESS IS A POSITIVE DISADVANTAGE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS VERY MUCH IN THE LIMELIGHT HERE. NATURALLY, HE NEEDS THE PATIENCE OF JOB AND THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. AND HE MUST BE ABLE TO WORK AS PART OF A TEAM..

NOW FOR A FEW MUNDANE DETAILS. THE SALARY IS HK DOLLARS 21,600

PER MONTH WHICH WORKS OUT TO ABOUT POUNDS STERLING 23,002 PER YEAR, CONVERTING AT HK DOLLARS NINE TO THE POUND. TAX 13 AT A FIXED RATE OF 15 PERCENT, WITH NO ALLOWANCES. ACCOMMODATION WILL

DE PROVIDED AT A CHARGE OF 7 AND A HALF PERCENT OF SALARY. MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES ARE EFFECTIVELY FREE.WE ENVISAGE A 3 YEAR INITIAL CONTRACT, WITH ANNUAL OVERSEAS LEAVE OF 6 WEEKS. FIRST CLASS PASSAGES WILL BE PROVIDED ON APPOINTMENT AND FOR LEAVES. THERE WILL BE A TAXABLE GRATUITY OF 25 PERCENT OF GROSS EARNINGS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT PERIOD,

I HOPE THAT THIS WILL GIVE YOU A PICTURE, ALBEIT INCOMPLETE, OF

THE TYPE OF MAN WE NEED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER GUIDANCE,

MAY I NOW GIVE YOU AN OUTLINE OF OUR PROGRAMME. I HOPE TO COME TO LONDON FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING 16 OCTOBER AND SHALL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU WHEN I ARRIVE, IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOU ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLES BY THEN, SO THAT I MAY DISCUSS THEM WITH YOU AND POSSIBLY MEET ONE OR TWO. I SHALL BE LOOKING AT THE SAME TIME AT POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FROM THE HOME CIVIL SERVICE. WE INTEND TO HAVE FORMAL MEETINGS WITH CANDIDATES DURING THE WEEK BEGINNING 13 NOVEMBER WHEN DENYS ROBERTS AND I WILL BE IN

LONDON, AND WE HOPE TO FIND A SUCCESSOR THEN. THIS IS QUITE A TIGHT TIMETABLE, BUT IT IS MOST DESIRABLE THAT WE REACH A DECISION BY THEN. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN HERE THAT I AND THE PRESENT SOLICITOR GENERAL WISH TO LEAVE NEXT YEAR, AND A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY IS MOST UNDESIRABLE.

MAY I CONCLUDE BY EXPRESSING OUR THANKS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO

HELP US IN THIS TASK, WHICH IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US. MESSAGE ENDS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK SGD

MR STRATION

4. CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO :

HONG KONG GOVT

OFFICE LONDON