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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1979
PLEA FOR EARLY EXPANSION OF FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES
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THE HON. PETER C. WONG MADE TWO PLEAS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY), ONE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR EARLY EXPANSION OF THE TWO NEW FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES, AND ANOTHER TO THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR SPEEDY RESETTLEMENT OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
MR. WONG'S FIRST PLEA AROSE FROM HIS CONCERN FOR THE GROWING DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE OF THE SCHEMES, ONE OF WHICH AT PRESENT SERVED BY ABOUT 100 PRACTISING LAWYERS OFFERS FREE ASSISTANCE TO ALL DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH SCHEDULED OFFENCES AT THE MAGISTRACIES AT CAUSEWAY BAY, SAN PO KONG AND NORTH KOWLOON.
ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED AS LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT SERVICE IS UNAVAILABLE AND CLIENTS ARE NEITHER MEANS TESTED NOR MERIT TESTED.
FROM JANUARY TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THE LAWYERS PROVIDED HELP TO 3 036 DEFENDANTS IN A TOTAL OF 2 821 CASES. THE ACQUITTAL RATE AT 54 PER CENT WAS HIGH AND HEADING THE LIST OF CHARGES WERE 'POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS' (44 PER CENT) AND LOITERING' (24 PER CENT).
+THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SERVICE BECOMES MORE APPARENT WHEN ONE REALISES THAT MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF OUR CRIMINAL CASES ARE TRIED IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS, WHICH ARE EMPOWERED TO ORDER CUSTODIAL SENTENCES OF UP TO THREE YEARS. AND THE PEOPLE TRIED IN THESE COURTS ARE THE ONES LEAST ABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION, HE SAID.
THE OTHER LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH MR. WONG SAID WAS PROVIDING A MUCH-NEEDED AND LONG-OVERDUE SERVICE WAS THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME ON CIVIL MATTERS OPERATING AT THE EASTERN AND MONG KOK CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.
+ IT IS ENTIRELY FLEXIBLE WITH THE MINIMUM OF FORMALITIES. EMERGENCY CASES ARE DEALT WITH BY THE ADMINISTRATOR WHO IS LEGALLY QUALIFIED. IN ALL CASES SOME FOLLOW UP ACTION IS AVAILABLE AND IF FURTHER APPOINTMENTS ARE NECESSARY THEY ARE ARRANGED, MR. WONG SAID. OVER 1 500 PEOPLE WERE HELPED UNDER THE SCHEME SINCE THIS JANUARY,
THE TWO SCHEMES ARE CHEAP TO RUN, EFFICIENT AND HAVE CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES IN THE FORM OF 170 TRAINED LEGAL MINDS AT THE PUBLIC'S DISPOSAL. THE LAWYERS PROVIDE THEIR SERVICE FREE AT THE CDO'S AND ONLY RECEIVE A VERY LOW FEE FROM THE SCHEME FUND FOR TAKING UP CASES AT THE MAGISTRACIES.
MR. WONG POINTED OUT THAT WITH A FURTHER $2.8 MILLION THE TWO SCHEMES COULD BE EXPANDED SO THAT LEGAL REPRESENTATION WOULD BE OFFERED AT THE REMAINING FIVE MAGISTRACIES AT WESTERN, SOUTH KOWLOON TSUEN WAN, KWUN TONG AND FANLING, AND A LEGAL ADVICE BUREAU WOULD BE SET UP IN EVERY MAJOR AREA OF POPULATION CONCENTRATION TWO MORE ON THE ISLAND AND FOUR MORE IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES INCLUDING ONE TO BE OPENED THIS MONTH IN WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE.
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