SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
3
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME FOR WOMEN WILL BE PUBLICISED THROUGH RADIO, TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS, WOMEN'S MAGAZINES AND POSTERS, AND EACH AGE GROUP WILL BE INFORMED OF ITS TURN IN ADVANCE THROUGH THE MEDIA.
MISS WONG POINTED OUT THAT HER DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE MAIL-IN APPOINTMENT SERVICE.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST REACH THE ISSUE OFFICE CHOSEN BY THE APPLICANTS AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE RESPECTIVE ISSUE PERIODS.
FORMS AND COPIES OF A LEAFLET EXPLAINING THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE CAN BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE OR IMMIGRATION OFFICE.
LEGAL AID COVERING EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE
****
HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO FACE EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO OBTAIN FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION UNDER THE LAW SOCIETY LEGAL ADVICE AND DUTY LAWYER SCHEME.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT THIS WILL BE REQUIRED IN OTHER THAN A FEW CASES PER YEAR AND THAT FOR THE MOST PART, IT WILL BE HONG KONG BELONGERS AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTS FACING SERIOUS CHARGES WHO WILL BENEFIT.
THE SCHEME, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, ALREADY OPERATES IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS WHERE IT ADMINISTERS THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS, BY THE IR VERY NATURE, ARE COMPLEX AND INVOLVE CONSIDERABLE PREPARATORY WORK BEFORE BEING HEARD. ANOTHER FEATURE IS THAT THEY ARE USUALLY VERY SERIOUS CHARGES.
NOW THAT DEFENDANTS CAN BE LEGALLY AIDED IN COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS, EXTRADITION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY AREA OF VERY SERIOUS CASES WHERE SOME FORM OF LEGAL AID IS NOT AVAILABLE IF THE PRESENT DECISION TO EXTEND THE SCHEME HAD NOT BEEN MADE.
+ IN MANY CASES THE DEFENDANT WILL BE A HONG KONG BELONGER, AND THE MATTER COULD HAVE ARISEN IN THE COURSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG, FOR EXAMPLE AS A SEAMAN, HE SAID.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT SEVEN EXTRADITION CASES WERE HEARD IN THE MAGISTRACIES IN THE YEARS 1976 TO 1979, FIVE EACH IN 1980 AND 1982, AND 16 IN 1981. THEY RANGE FROM MURDER (12 CASES) TO INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF STOLEN PROPERTY.
IT WILL REMAIN OPEN TO DEFENDANTS IN THESE CASES TO OPT FOR PRIVATE REPRESENTATION BUT FOR THOSE (ESTIMATED AT ABOUT SIX PER YEAR) WHO CANNOT AFFORD THIS, THE NEW MOVE WILL OFFER A MEASURE OF LEGAL PROTECTION CONSISTENT WITH THE VIEW THAT IT IS ONLY PROPER FOR THERE TO BE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION WHEN VERY SERIOUS CHARGES OF COMPLEXITY ARE CONSIDERED IN HONG KONG COURT.
14