TNAG-0749-FCO40-953-Visits-of-officials-from-Hong-Kong-to-UK-1978 — Page 18

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Action Taken

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TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1116 OF 20 SEPTEMBER 1978.

FOR MACLAREN FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOUR TELNO 739.

1. THANK YOU FOR ARRANGING THE APPOINTMENT WITH SIR BASIL HALL.

2. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU WHEN WE SPOKE, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE ENGLISH BAR AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF DAVID HIRST QC, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BAR COUNCIL. I HAVE JUST SENT DETAILS TO HIRST THROUGH CUR LONDON OFFICE AND I THINK THE

BEST THING THAT I CAN DO IS TO REPEAT THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT

MESSAGE TO YOU

REALISING THAT SOME OF THE DETAILS WILL BE KNOWN TO YOU ANYWAY BUT IT WILL BE IN A FORM WHICH YOU COULD PASS TO SIR BASIL HALL AS A MESSAGE FROM ME, IF YOU WISH.

3. THE POSITION IS AS FOLLOWS,

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4. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THEEXECUTIVE

COUNCIL (THE GOVERNMENTS PRIME POLICY-MAKING BODY, PRESIDED OVER BY THE GOVERNOR) AND OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL COMBINES, UNDER THE SIMPLE CROWN COLONY CONSTITUTION OF HONG KONG, THE ROLE OF MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN ITS WIDEST SENSE AND THAT OF PERMANENT UNDER-SECRETARY. THERE IS THEREFORE A LARGE POLICY CONTE IN HIS WORK.

5.IN THE EXECUTIVE FILED, 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-

CIBILITY FOR LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING. MY CHAMBERS THEREFORE COMBINES IN A GENCLE CENTRALISED ORGANISATION THE ROLES OF YOUR ATTORNEY