TNAG-2694-FCO40-3900-Hong-Kong-Judiciary-and-judicial-appointments-1993 — Page 47

18.

Completely separate

classification will also enhance the

the second meaning of

That will be further emphasised by the

corporate independence of the Judiciary

judicial independence.

systematic judicial leadership and strengthened administration which I

am recommending..

19.

It

There are two things which independence does not mean. does not mean that an individual judge is wholly free to decide either

the kind or the quantity of the work he will do. In that he can be

expected to accept assignments under the general or particular direction of the Chief Justice or the presiding judge. Nor does it mean that the Judiciary is not accountable for its consumption of the

tax-payers' resources.

20.

The Need for an Administrator

That is one of the

arguments for administration.

I

introduced the arguments for a specially appointed Judiciary Administrator in my second Discussion Paper in these words

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had

to expand

The Judiciary has substantially in recent years and the ordinary management task has now become quite large enough to require the full-time attention of a senior administrator. The operating cost for 1985-86 was $310,000,000. The total judicial manpower is 140 and the staff number 1,300. Large sums of litigants' money are handled. The task of the Registrar has changed very greatly since 1979. The Government's methods of financial control have also changed. The present study provides the opportunity to consider two related questions: what does the Judiciary need' in the way of strategic forward planning and positive functional management and what degree of financial control can the Government expect of the Judiciary?

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Management by delegation is a sound practice but needs to be understood and qualified. The continuous, forward looking oversight of all aspects of resource and personnel management is for the senior manager himself. Motivating, co-ordinating and leading the various elements of

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