IN A SINGLE CENTRALISED ORGANISATION THE ROLES OF YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND DIRECTOR CF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, THE TREASURY SO TUTOR
AND OTHER DEF ARTMENTAL LEGAL ADVISERS AND THE OFFICE OF PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL, AND SOME OF THE ROLES OF THE HOME SECRETARY.
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6. 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.
7. 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.
8. IN RECOGNITION OF THIS, AND IN ANTICIPATION OF MY RETIREMENT,
1 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 THE ABOLITION OF THE OFFICE OF SOLICITOR GENERAL AND THE CREATION
OF 3 NEW POSTS AT THE SAME LEVEL OF SENIORITY. THE HOLDERS OF THES POSTS WILL, RESPECTIVELY, HEAD THREE NEW DIVISIONS WITHIN MY OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROSECUTIONS, THE PROVISION OF CIVIL LEGAL
SERVICES, AND LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING, IT IS INTENDED THAT THERE SHA BE A SUBSTANTIAL DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY FOR DECISION-MAKING AND MANAGEMENT TO THE HOLDERS OF THESE POSTS, WITH A VIEW TO RELIEVING FUTURE ATTORNEYS GENERAL (WHO WILL NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED BY A
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