30
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1986
REVIEW OF BAR ADMISSION POLICY
*****
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE POLICY OF ADMISSION TO THE HONG KONG BAR AND SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JAMES FINDLAY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RICHARD LAI, MR FINDLAY SAID THE REVIEW WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN CONSULTATION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES.
+OBVIOUSLY, UNTIL THAT REVIEW IS CONDUCTED AND THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OBTAINED, I CANNOT SAY WHAT THE AMENDMENTS WILL BE,+ MR FINDLAY SAID.
HE SAID THE UMELCO SECURITY PANEL HAD CONSIDERED THAT THE PROPOSAL SHOULD ONLY BE ENDORSED IF IT WAS PART OF AN OVERALL REVIEW OF ADMISSION POLICY TO THE HONG KONG BAR,
+AUSTRALASIAN LAWYERS IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS SUBMITTED THEIR CASE FOR A CHANGE IN THE LAW TO THE UMELCO SECURITY PANEL, HE SAID.
+THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPRESSED THE VIEW TO THE UMELCO SECURITY PANEL THAT ALLOWING THE ADMISSION TO THE HONG KONG BAR OF EXPERIENCED AUSTRALASIAN LAWYERS WITH LONG SERVICE IN THIS CHAMBER WOULD NOT HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONG LOCAL LEGAL PROFESSION AND HE REMAINS OF THAT OPINION,+ HE SAID.
+HAVING HEARD INTERESTED PARTIES, THE PANEL EXPRESSED THE VIEW ON MAY 17 THAT THERE WAS A CASE FOR AMENDING THE LAW TO ALLOW COMMONWEALTH-QUALIFIED LAWYERS WITH AN APPROPRIATE PERIOD OF SERVICE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION TO THE HONG KONG BAR, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS.+
/31