TNAG-1922-FCO40-2727-Future-of-the-judiciary-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 137

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Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

London S W 1

21 January 1989

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Ps/hord Ocarthur Sir A. Watts, Legat

Adviser

Hr Gillmore the McLaren

Robert Cout

(As/hord Olcarthur)

I write, as patron of the Court Interpreters' Association of Hong Kong to express my profound concern that industrial relations between the Association and the Judiciary have reached so low an ebb that the Association, having petitioned the Chief Secretary and now the Governor, have a mandate to commence industrial action.

I enclose copies of the respective Petitions in the hope that the F&CO can assist avert what would be a most embarrassing and unhelpful

problem in a key sector being closely scrutinised by the Peoples' Republic of China.

24/1

The problem evolves around the facts that the Court Interpreters' Association (CIA) enjoys a less attractive career structure than do Chinese Language Officers (CLOs).

The disparity of career prospects is that advancement potential to chief rank within the CIA is 1:156, compared with 1:29 amongst the CLOS. At a lesser grade, the chances of getting to senior rank is 1:4.6 and 1:29,respectively.

At present the CLO establishment comprises 17 chief officers and 106 seniors as against 1 chief court interpreter and six senior officers in the CIA.

Against a protracted and complex workload coming before the Courts, the CIA estimate that they need a further 20 interpreters, together with the introduction of controller's rank to oversee the future expansion, development and career advancement of the CIA. Clearly the imbalance in favour of the CLOS attacks morale, frustrates ambition and denudes recruitment to the CIA.

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leaving

The acknowledged shortfall entails interpreters working long hours them physically and mentally exhausted creates a system where an unprepared interpreter might have to take over unexpectedly in an intricate case involving commercial or financial terminology; inhibits leave, increases