CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 680
OF 050355Z MARCH 91
CONFIDENTIAL
6310/4
RT-NKD
87
125624
MDHIAN 6485
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 406:
BRITISH NATIONALITY CHONG KONG) ACT:
LETTER FROM THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION.
1. OUR LEGAL ADVISERS ADVISE THAT THE MEANING OF ''SERVICE WITH A BRITISH UNDERTAKING'' CANNOT BE STRETCHED TO INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP OF ONE OF THE INNS OF COURT. WE REGARD SUCH MEMBERSHIP AS INCIDENTAL TO CALL TO THE ENGLISH WHICH OF COURSE GIVES AN APPLICANT MAXIMUM POINTS FOR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS IN GROUP 16. THE BAR ASSOCIATION'S ARGUMENT COULD EQUALLY APPLY TO APPLICANTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE ENGLISH LAW SOCIETY OR, IN OTHER OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL BODIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
2. WE ACCEPT THAT BARRISTERS MAY BE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN COMPARISON WITH SOLICITORS WORKING IN ENGLISH FIRMS AND WILL REFER THE ANOMALY TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR ITS ADVICE.
3. IF AFTER THE INITIAL PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS IT APPEARS THAT DISPROPORTIONALLY FEW BARRISTERS ARE LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THEN UP TO 50 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES POINTS MAY BE AWARDED TO REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE APPLICANTS' PROFESSIONAL OR VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE RELEVANT OCCUPATION''.
4. WE HAVE ALREADY INFORMED MR RODGERS AS SUGGESTED IN PARA 7 OF YOUR TUR.
WILSON
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