TNAG-2620-FCO40-3811-Official-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 35

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2664

OF 09113OZ NOVEMBER 92

(74)

CONFIDENTIAL

ра

NIST

033272

12/11 MDHIAN 6914

Q DIST? TOP COPY

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD.

FROM GOVERNOR.

PROPOSED VISIT TO HONG KONG BY LORD CHANCELLOR.

AS YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE GONE RATHER QUIET ON THE PROPOSALS TO APPOINT TWO JUDGES FROM THE UK DIRECT TO THE COURT OF APPEAL HERE AND TO SECOND SOMEONE FROM THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT TO ACT AS JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR IN THE HONG KONG JUDICIARY. THE CHIEF JUSTICE SEEMS IN PRINCIPLE TO ACCEPT THE NEED FOR BOTH OF THESE, BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO FIND IT EASY TO TAKE THE NECESSARY DECISIONS GIVEN THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE CONTROVERSIAL.

2. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT IT WOULD HELP TO CONCENTRATE ALL OUR MINDS IF THE LORD CHANCELLOR WAS TO PAY A FURTHER VISIT TO HONG

KONG. I HOPE THAT WE COULD USE SUCH A VISIT TO BRING THESE TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES TO A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION RATHER MORE QUICKLY THAN MIGHT OTHERWISE BE THE CASE.

3. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SOUND THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE OUT ON THIS. I WOULD THEN FOLLOW UP DURING MY VISIT TO LONDON NEXT WEEK.

PATTEN

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PS/MR GOODLAD SIR J COLES

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CONFIDENTIAL