THE Judiciary is under pressure to abolish the post of the Supreme Court Registrar, following the creation of a senior administrator to take up most of his administrative duties.
Although legislators at yesterday's establishment sub-committee endorsed the creation of the new post, many said they would only approve it in the Finance Committee if a satisfactory explanation was given for the retention of the registrar.
The new post, mooted in the Robinson consultancy report of 1986, is intended to improve efficiency and solve problems such as the lengthy wait for trials.
With a proposed monthly salary of $119,000, the senior administrator will assist the Chief Justice, Sir Ti Liang Yang, in managing the Judiciary.
At present, the department's administrative work is taken up by Supreme Court Registrar Julian Betts, whose monthly salary is $101,000.
The United Democrats and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hongkong (DAB) said the registrar's post should not be retained, as the creation of the new administrator's post would see a great reduction in his responsibilities.