A bid to formally declare lawyer Julian Hall bankrupt was adjourned yesterday when neither he nor his solicitor turned up at Supreme Court.

The former Progressive Labour Party MP has already been ordered to pay $1.6 million plus seven percent interest to Betty Lorraine McMahon, a former client, and has had two bankruptcy Receiving Orders made against him by the court.

The application at Supreme Court yesterday to have Mr. Hall declared bankrupt was made by Alan Dunch, acting for the joint receivers of Mrs. McMahon, the widow of a Canadian millionaire.

Notice of the motion to secure a formal order of bankruptcy against Mr. Hall was sent to his solicitor Michael Scott on September 9.

Mr. Dunch told acting Chief Justice Norma Wade-Miller he was "mightily concerned'' to see that one of the bankruptcy Receiving Orders made against Mr. Hall was more than 18 months old and the Act of Bankruptcy leading to the Receiving Order was more than two years old.

He added: "Because of the inactivity of the Official Receiver, Mr. Hall has a evolved a body of creditors, none of whom are protected.

"We are here today because of the lack of activity of the Official Receiver which is leaving the unsuspecting public in potential peril.'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller agreed to issue a formal court direction that Mr.

Scott appear in court at 11 a.m. on November 10.

She said: "That is an appropriate course. It gives them an opportunity to appear and they can't complain later on. If he (Mr. Scott) can get a hold of Mr. Hall, he can inform him as well.'' In March, Mr. Hall lost his bid to appeal the $1.6 million paid to Mrs.

McMahon's trustees. He was also ordered to pay legal costs.

His house in Mount Hill, Pembroke, was auctioned off for $640,000 in February 1998.

In March this year, Appeals Court President Sir James Astwood accused Mr. Hall of treating the court "shabbily'' by not turning up to appeal against the order to pay the $1.6 million.

He added: "It's almost contempt of court. The court is not to be treated as a circus.''