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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1979
LAND IN SHOUSON HILL FOR DEVELOPMENT
******
THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SOME LAND IN SHOUSON HILL WHICH IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE LOCATION OF THE POLICE DRIVING SCHOOL WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE IN 1980.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. JOHN BREMRIDGE, MR. JONES SAID THE SITE WAS CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING ABOUT 86 LARGE FLATS OR A RATHER SMALLER NUMBER OF TOWN HOUSES.
MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE GOVERNMENT EFFORT, A SUITABLE SITE FOR THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF THE DRIVING SCHOOL HAD NOT BEEN FOUND.
+THIS MEANS THAT THE EARLIEST TIME WE CAN NOW EXPECT TO MOVE IT OUT OF SHOUSON HILL IS 1984, WHEN IT IS HOPED THAT A NEW DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOL WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON A SITE ABOVE LUNG CHEUNG ROAD,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE NEW SCHOOL WILL INCORPORATE POLICE, FIRE SERVICES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DRIVER TRAINING.
LEGAL AID FEES PAYABLE TO LAWYERS REVISED ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE FEES OF LEGAL AID PAYABLE TO SOLICITORS AND COUNSEL ASSIGNED TO REPRESENT ACCUSED PERSONS IN THE IR TRIALS IN THE HIGH COURT OR DISTRICT COURT AND FOR CRIMINAL APPEALS.
THE NEW MAXIMUM FEES HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY ABOUT 130 PER CENT FOR BARRISTERS AND 160 PER CENT FOR SOLICITORS IN RESPECT OF HIGH COURT TRIALS AND APPEAL CASES- AND FOR DISTRICT COURT TRIALS BY ABOUT 25 PER CENT AND 33 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
MOVING THE MOTION RELATING TO THE FEE INCREASE PROPOSAL IN THE COUNCIL TODAY, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. GERALD NAZARETH SAID THE EXISTING MAXIMUM FEES FOR TRIALS IN THE HIGH COURT AND CRIMINAL APPEALS WERE FIXED AS LONG AGO AS JANUARY 1970, AND FOR DISTRICT COURT TRIALS IN AUGUST 1973.
+DURING THE LAST DECADE THERE HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE
IN THE COST OF LIVING, AND CONSEQUENTLY IN THE OVERHEADS OF
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE SAID.
+THE STAGE HAS NOW BEEN REACHED THAT MANY LEGAL PRACTITIONERS WHO ACCEPT LEGAL AID ASSIGNMENTS DO SO ONLY AT CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL SACRIFICE, BECAUSE THE PRESENT PRESCRIBED
MAXIMUM FEES THAT MAY BE PAID TO THEM UNDER THE PRINCIPAL RULES HAVE BECOME UNREALISTIC WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME, HE ADDED.
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