TNAG-1259-FCO40-1599-The-Future-of-Hong-Kong---special-study-by-FCO--August-1982--1983 — Page 145

Majesty in Council, so that effectively the Judicial

Committee of the Privy Council, sitting in London, is

the final court of appeal.

8.

The Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme

Court are appointed by the Governor on instructions from

the Crown through a Secretary of State, ie from HMG. HMG

approve appointments of District Court judges and other

senior judicial appointments made by the Governor, who

is advised by a local Judicial Service Commission.

9.

The administration of justice is conducted on the

English pattern and care is taken to ensure the independence

and impartiality of the courts. Many of the senior

judges and many of the magistrates are expatriates; while

a substantial number of local appointments have been made,

not enough suitably-qualified local persons are willing to

accept judicial appointments on present salaries to staff

the courts completely. The proceedings of the courts are

normally conducted in English, with the assistance of

interpreters.

Since the courts administer the common law

and statutes of an English type (written in English), the

judges are required to possess qualifications as barristers

or solicitors obtained in the United Kingdom or in other

parts of the Commonwealth, or since 1972 from Hong Kong

University.

10.

Confidence in the courts reposes in their independence,

impartiality, uncorruptibility and considerable expertise

in commercial law.

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