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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985
+ IN CIVIL CASES, LEGAL AID IS ADMINISTERED BY THE LAW SOCIETY IN ENGLAND, WHEREAS IN HONG KONG IT IS RUN BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT WHICH DETERMINES WHETHER LEGAL AID SHOULD BE GRANTED, A DECISION WHICH MIGHT BE SEEN TO BE INCREASINGLY SENSITIVE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS A PARTY TO THE LITIGATION, HE ELABORATED.
+
MR SWAINE ADVOCATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF LEGAL AID IN BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND PLACED WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
+ I BELIEVE THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN HONG KONG IS NOW LARGE ENOUGH TO SHOULDER THIS RESPONSIBILITY, + HE SAID.
FINALLY, MR SWAINE SPOKE ON THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK CONCERNING THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG,
QUOTING ARTICLES 2, 3, 4 AND ANNEX ARTICLE 1 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, HE SAID IT WAS CLEARLY BEYOND QUESTION THAT IT WAS FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO BRING HONG KONG ALONG THE ROAD OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT TO A STATE OF MATURITY SUFFICIENT FOR THE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THE POLITICAL RIGHTS PROMISED UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION.
+ IN THIS SOLEMN TASK, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OWES A CONSTITUTIONAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO ENSURE THAT THE IDEALS AND PROMISES OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ARE FULFILLED TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT, HE SAID.
TO THAT END, MR SWAINE SAID, CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WAS ESSENTIAL AND FOR THE IR PART, THE PEOPLE MUST LE FREE TO EXPRESS THE IR VIEWS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR,
+ THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE LAST FEW DAYS HAS NOT BEEN CONDUCIVE TO A FREE EXPRESSION OF VIEWS, CHARGED AS IT HAS BEEN WITH TENSION AND VEILED THREATS.
+ VENTURE TO SAY THAT SUCH A STRATEGY WILL PROVE TO BE WHOLLY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE, HE SAID.
UPKEEP OF POLICE MORALE CALLED FOR
*****
PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN ON IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY AND MORALE OF THE POLICE FORCE AS THE FUNCTION OF HAVING AN OUTSTANDING POLICE FORCE IN MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER IS BEYOND DOUBT, THE HON YEUNG PO-KHAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+OUR ING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BEFORE 1997, GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE UTMOST SUPPORT TO THE FORCE, HE SAID.
/SPEAKING AT
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