HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 12 July 1989
香港立法局———————————一九八九年七月十二日
11
MR. DAVID CHEUNG: Sir, many of these immigration specialists are lawyers specializing in the immigration laws of their own countries. What measure of supervision, if any, does the Law Society or the Government of Hong Kong exercise over their activities?
SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION: Sir, I believe we are now wading in the area of foreign lawyers. I wonder whether I should not defer to the Attorney General?
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Attorney General, do you wish to add to that?
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Sir, if a foreign lawyer wishes to establish a business in Hong Kong under the present administrative arrangements, he must deliver an undertaking to the Law Society which will in turn enable the Immigration Department to issue a work permit to that lawyer. I know of no other arrangement under which lawyers from foreign countries may come here to practise law.
MR. PETER POON: Sir, in view of the fact that there have been complaints to the Consumer Council, has the council undertaken any study of the services rendered or the products promoted by these immigration specialists, and can it offer any avenue of redress for an aggrieved investor?
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SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION: Sir, the Consumer Council investigated each of the 11 cases and, in most cases, the results were rather inconclusive in that it involved a complaint of the service rendered not being in accordance with the original request for service. I could go into each case, but I think that would take too much time in this Council. Perhaps I could give Mr. Peter POON a reply in writing listing out the details of the 11 cases. (Annex I)
MR. TIEN: Sir, would Secretary inform this Council whether any investigation by Government is currently taking place concerning deliberate fraud by any immigration specialist?