WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979
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EXPANSION OF LEGAL SCHEMES TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC
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A THIRD CENTRE FOR THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME WILL SOON BE OPENED IN NORTHEAST KOWLOON, THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME TO BE REVIEWED TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR TO SEE IF EXPANSION IS REQUIRED, AND MORE PEOPLE ARE NEEDED FOR THE LAY ASSESSORS SCHEME.
THESE WERE REVEALED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE REVIEWED THE VARIOUS LEGAL SCHEMES AIMED AT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND A BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME ON CIVIL MATTERS, ADMINISTERED BY THE LAW SOCIETY AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HAS PROVED VERY POPULAR.
IT STARTED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR IN EASTERN AND MONG KOK CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, AND UP TO THE END OF AUGUST THIS YEAR, OVER 1 000 PEOPLE HAVE OBTAINED ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE IN THE TWO CENTRES WHICH ARE SERVED BY 150 LAWYERS ON A ROSTER BASIS WITH ENTHUSIASTIC ASSISTANCE FROM LAW STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME WHICH IS ALSO ADMINISTERED BY THE LAW SOCIETY AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION +HAS QUICKLY ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION FOR FAIR AND HONEST REPRESENTATION OF DEFENDANTS' INTERESTS AND VERY FEW DEFENDANTS HAVE DECLINED TO USE IT,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.
THE SCHEME STARTED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR INITIALLY IN THREE MAGISTRACIES, ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND TWO IN KOWLOON. IT IS SERVED BY ABOUT 100 PRACTISING SOLICITORS AND BARRISTERS AND HAS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO SOME 2 850 PERSONS DURING THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF ITS OPERATION.
ON THE LAY ASSESSORS SCHEME UNDER WHICH BILINGUAL PEOPLE WELL-EQUIPPED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL CUSTOM AND TRADITIONS AND CURRENT COMMUNITY FEELINGS ARE APPOINTED TO SIT WITH EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES, SIR MURRAY SAID +MANY MORE ARE NEEDED, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVITE THOSE WILLING AND CAPABLE TO COME FORWARD TO JOIN US IN THIS VERY USEFUL VENTURE.+
UNDER THE SCHEME, ABOUT 200 PERSONS FROM A VARIETY OF SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS WERE APPOINTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND THEY HAVE SAT WITH EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES HEARING CASES INVOLVING DANGEROUS DRUGS, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY, THEFT, COMMON ASSAULT AND TRAFFIC OFFENCES.
SIR MURRAY CONGRATULATED MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION ON THE SUCCESS OF THESE SCHEMES AND GIVING SO GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME.
+TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION, AND PERHAPS EXPANDED THESE SCHEMES SHOULD HELP TO BRIDGE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL GAP THAT LIES BETWEEN MUCH OF THE POPULATION AND THE PROCEDURES OF BRITISH LAW, HE SAID,
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