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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988
THESE PROPOSALS WOULD ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN PRIVATE PRACTICE TO JOIN THE JUDICIARY AS A SECOND CAREER AND YET ENJOY A REASONABLE PENSION AFTER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE, SHE SAID.
THE AGE OF RETIREMENT OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS EXCLUDING MAGISTRATES AND SIMILAR RANKS WERE EXTENDED FROM 60 TO 65 SO THAT THE SECOND CAREER WOULD ALSO BE OF A SIGNIFICANT DURATION AND BENEFICIAL BOTH TO THE INDIVIDUAL JUDICIAL OFFICER AND THE JUDICIARY.
THE AD HOC GROUP EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT MAGISTRATES WOULD TO RETIRE AT 60 AND MADE
I'T A POINT THAT AN EXTENSION OF RETIREMENT AGE TO 65 SHOULD BE PURSUED IN FUTURE.
HAVE THEIR
MEMBERS SUGGESTED THAT IN ORDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN LOCAL LAWYERS FOR THE JUDICIARY, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CONVERTING HOUSING BENEFITS TO CASH TERMS OR GRANTING EXTRA ALLOWANCE TO JUDGES WHO WERE PROFICIENT IN CHINESE.
HOWEVER, THEY WERE DIVIDED ON WHETHER JUDGES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO PRIVATE PRACTICE AFTER SERVING THE JUDICIARY.
THEY ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE PACKAGE HAD GONE FAR ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE ITS AIMS.
IN RESPONSE, THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT ONCE A SEPARATE STRUCTURE WAS SET UP FOR THE JUDICIARY, THERE COULD BE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN ACCOMMODATING ANY SUGGESTIONS, IF JUSTIFIED, IMPROVE ON THE TERMS OF JUDICIAL SERVICE.
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IT WILL ALSO BE HELPFUL IF CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN FUTURE ON RECRUITMENT OF LOCAL JUDICIAL OFFICERS CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN A MORE STRUCTURED WAY," MISS TAM CONTINUED.
SHE ADDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO PROMISED AN OVERALL REVIEW ON THE PARITY OF TREATMENT BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE OFFICERS, AND MALE AND FEMALE DEPENDENTS, AND THE RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENT OF CHILDREN, LEGITIMATE OR OTHERWISE.
"WE ALSO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENCY WITH THE PENSION BENEFITS (REFUSAL TO GRANT, SUSPENSION, REDUCTION AND CANCELLATION) BILL 1988 AND WELCOME THE ADMINISTRATION'S CLARIFICATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 2013)(A) OF THE BILL (ON THE RIGHTS OF DEPENDANT CHILDREN WHERE MORE THAN SIX),
H SHE SAID.
THERE IS NEVER ANY DOUBT IN OUR MIND THAT MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION WHO HAVE THE QUALITY TO SERVE IN THE JUDICIARY MUST STAND OUT AND BE COUNTED IN PURSUING A CAREER WHICH INVOLVES REAL COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG.
"THE LEGAL PROFESSION HAS NEVER BEEN SLOW TO CHAMPION CAUSES FOR THE COMMON GOOD, OR TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND MAKE USE OF THE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN BY THE ENACTMENT OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION."
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