ACR X ON VISUAL APCH FOLLOWING A MD-80 WAS ASSIGNED A SPD BELOW WHAT CTLR HANDBOOK CALLS FOR.

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CLRED TO CROSS SANTA MONICA VOR (SMO) AT OR ABOVE 7000 FT; DSND TO 2500 FT TO EXPECT A VISUAL TO RWY 25L. I DID NOT SEE NOR HEAR ANY OTHER TFC THAT WOULD CREATE ANY PROBS. I HAD ALREADY BRIEFED THE FO TO NOT BE TOO EAGER TO ACKNOWLEDGE TFC OR THE ARPT BECAUSE OF THE HAZE AND SETTING SUN. AFTER PASSING SMO; WE WERE TOLD TO 'EXPEDITE DSCNT TO 2500 FT AND RPT TFC (AN MD-80) FOR RWY 25L IN SIGHT.' I SAID; 'LOOKING FOR THE TFC.' THE CTLR SAID; 'DO YOU HAVE THE FIELD?' I REPLIED; 'WE DO NOW; BUT WE MAY LOSE IT WHEN WE DSND INTO THE HAZE.' THE CTLR SAID; ' CLRED FOR THE VISUAL RWY 25L. LET ME KNOW IF YOU LOSE THE FIELD. YOUR TFC IS AT 12 O'CLOCK FOR RWY 25L.' I STATED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE TFC AND HE SAID; 'MAINTAIN 150 KTS AND CONTACT TWR.' I SAID; 'WHAT SPD?' HE REPLIED; ' 150 KTS.' WHEN THE COPLT TURNED INTO THE ARPT; SHE SAID; 'I DON'T SEE THE FIELD; BUT I HAVE HOLLYWOOD PARK.' I SAID; 'I SEE THE RWYS; AND I THINK THAT I SEE THE MD-80.' (I CONFIRMED THIS WITH TCASII). WE MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG ON RWY 25L AFTER THE MD-80. I BELIEVE THAT THE CTLR WAS TRYING TO DO US A FAVOR BY GIVING US RWY 25L WITH THE ONLY OTHER ACFT IN THE SKY ALSO GOING THERE. (OUR GATES ARE NEAR THE 25'S). IN THIS CASE; HE GAVE A SPD ASSIGNMENT THAT IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATC'S HANDBOOK; WITHOUT SAYING 'IF ABLE.' THIS CTLR WAS 'FORCING THE SYS' TO DO US A FAVOR. HOWEVER; THEY ALSO DEVIATE FROM APPROVED PROCS TO INCREASE CAPACITY. LAX IS AN ARPT WHERE THE FIELD CAN BE VISIBLE AT 7000 FT; AND WHEN YOU TURN IN WITH THE HAZE AND SETTING SUN; IT CAN BE 3 MI OR LESS VISIBILITY.