WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982′
12
DUTY LAWYER SCHEME
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A PLEA TO EXTEND THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME TO THE FANLING AND KWUN TONG MAGISTRACIES WAS MADE BY THE HON PETER C. WONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THE FACT THAT THOSE CHARGED WITH SCHEDULED OFFENCES AT THESE TWO MAGISTRACIES ARE NOT PROVIDED WITH FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS REPUGNANT TO OUR SOCIAL CONSCIENCE+,
MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1979 FOR THOSE WHO CAN ILL AFFORD TO PAY LEGAL FEES, NOW COVERS NINE SCHEDULED OFFENCES IN SIX OF THE EIGHT MAGISTRACIES, NAMELY CAUSEWAY BAY, WESTERN, SAN PO KONG, NORTH KOWLOON, SOUTH KOWLOON AND TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACIES.
IN THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 6 913 DEFENDANTS WERE ACCORDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH AN ACQUITTAL RATE OF 71 PER CENT IN NOT GUILTY PLEA CASES. THESE COMPARED WITH 3 036 DEFENDANTS GIVEN LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH AN ACQUITTAL RATE OF 54 PER CENT IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1979, HE SAID.
THE AVERAGE COST PER DEFENDANT IN 1979 WAS $440 WHILE THAT FOR 1982 IS $407.
ALTOGETHER 180 BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS ARE NOW UNDERTAKING THE TASK OF OFFERING REPRESENTATION IN THE SIX MAGISTRACIES, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 80 OVER THE 1979 FIGURE.
IN ADDITION, MR WONG WENT ON, OVER 20 VOLUNTARY LAWYERS PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ADVICE AT SIX EVENING CENTRES LOCATED IN THE VARIOUS CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.
ABOUT 100 APPLICANTS BENEFIT WEEKLY FROM THE IR EXPERT ADVICE ON A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL PROBLEMS.
+ AM ASSURED BY THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEMES THAT SUFFICIENT MANPOWER IS AVAILABLE AND SUBJECT TO FUNDS BEING FORTHCOMING IT IS PLANNED TO HAVE A TERRITORY-WIDE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME BY 1983.+ SAID MR WONG.
+WITH A MODEST INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE, GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT AND COMPREHENSIVE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES IN ALL THE EIGHT MAGISTRACIES IN THE TERRITORY.+
ON THE SUBJECT OF LANDLORD AND TENANT, MR WONG OPINED THAT IN THE PROVISION OF SECURITY OF TENURE TO TENANTS OF PREMISES NOT SUBJECT TO RENT CONTROL, THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG TOO FAR TO THE SIDE OF THE TENANTS+.
/HE