CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE
would not equally apply to applicants who are members of the
to applicants X English Law Society, or in other occupational groups who are
members of other, comparable professional bodies in the
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X
X X
United Kingdom.
But subject to the views of the Steering Committee, the Governor does have powers under Article 14(3)(a) of the Selection Scheme Order to allocate up to 50 special circumstances points to applicants on account of "the importance of their professional or vocational
qualifications in the relevant occupation". If after the initial processing of applications it appears that disproportionately few barristers are likely to be
successful, then it would be open to the Governor to make
use of his powers under Article 14.
X I can certainly confirm that the purpose of the scheme is, as
you say, to give assurance to persons considered to be essential to the well being of Hong Kong beth before 1997 and indeed afterwards. I hope you will be reassured to Learn that we and the Hong Kong Government would certainly include barristers among those essential groups, and that the Hong Kong Government will take steps to ensure that barristers will be adequately catered for under the legal professionals group.
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Ends.
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LIMITED