TNAG-2694-FCO40-3900-Hong-Kong-Judiciary-and-judicial-appointments-1993 — Page 55

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Benefits and Costs

37.

I would invite those who look for a cost/benefit analysis of

strengthened administration to understand this Report. In order to be

sufficiently effective and efficient the Judiciary needs to achieve

certain things. These emerge expressly or by implication throughout

the Report. Ways and means of achieving them are set out. There are however two essential conditions: first, the Judiciary can achieve them

only by going out and getting them itself; there is literally no-one

else to do it; secondly, the Judiciary must take systematic charge of

the flow of its own business. The services of a trained senior

administrator are essential a point with which most people seem to

agree. But neither he nor the Chief Justice can co-ordinate the work

of every court and tribunal. Nor can the two of them know enough to

reach informed decisions about strategy without judicial input. The

key to a more effective, more productive and more efficient Judiciary is a combination of presiding judges, administration and collective

advice. Such concepts as listing systems and pre-trial procedures are

mere tools. To work well they must be well and responsibly wielded.

38.

There is, therefore, no cost/benefit analysis in this Report. A few simple calculations will nevertheless be useful. In my proposals the presiders are all working judges so there is no increase in the

judicial establishment. In terms of top salaries the increased cost would be by the application of new pay points for the presiders and by

an administrator's salary instead of the

suggested below :-

Registrar's salary as

Monthly: Old Salary

New Salary

New Salary Addition

President, Court of Appeal

$58,800

60,950

2,150

President, High Court

$57,200

58,800

1,600

President, District Court

$42,800

57,200 14,400

Assistant President,

District Court

$42,800

48,650 5,850

Chief Magistrate

$36,900

42,800 5,900

President, Labour Tribunal

$31,050

42,800 11,750

34 -

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