FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1991
ANY PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS INTEREST, RIGHT OR EASEMENT IN OR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED INVOLVED WILL BE INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE UNDERTAKINGS MAY DELIVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS A WRITTEN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION ON OR BEFORE MARCH 7 NEXT YEAR.
HE SHOULD STATE IN HIS SUBMISSION THE SUM OF MONEY WHICH HE WILLING TO ACCEPT IN FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF HIS CLAIM SHOULD SUBMIT SUCH PARTICULARS WHICH HE POSSESSES TO SUBSTANTIATE CLAIM.
IS
AND
HIS
MORE TO BENEFIT FROM LEGAL AID
* *
MORE
PEOPLE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL AID UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE OBJECT OF THE LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), IS TO AMEND THE LEGAL AID ORDINANCE TO GIVE EFFECT TO A NEW SYSTEM OF MEANS TESTING IN ASSESSING ELIGIBILITY FOR LEGAL AID.
THE NEW FINANCIAL CAPACITY APPROACH WAS INTENDED TO ACHIEVE A FAIRER SYSTEM OF ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HIS
UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, AN APPLICANT WILL BE ASSESSED ACCORDING TO HIS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, WHICH ARE DEFINED AS BEING THE SUM OF DISPOSABLE ANNUAL INCOME AND CAPITAL.
IF THE AGGREGATE FIGURE DOES NOT EXCEED $120,000, THE APPLICANT WILL BE ELIGIBLE ON MEANS GROUNDS FOR LEGAL AID IN BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES.
AT PRESENT, AN APPLICANT IS MEANS TESTED SEPARATELY ON HIS CAPITAL AND INCOME, AND HE HAS TO SATISFY THE CRITERIA OF BOTH TESTS BEFORE HE IS ELIGIBLE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS SYSTEM WORKED TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF PERSONS WHOSE FINANCIAL RESOURCES CONSISTED MAINLY OF EITHER INCOME OR CAPITAL, AND IN FAVOUR OF THOSE WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES BUT SPREAD BETWEEN BOTH INCOME AND CAPITAL.
"THE NEW APPROACH WILL AVOID THE ANOMALIES OF SEPARATE AND INCOME MEANS TESTS, HE EXPLAINED.
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CAPITAL
FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW SYSTEM OF USING COMBINED INCOME AND CAPITAL TO ASSESS LEGAL AID ELIGIBILITY, A NEW GRADUATED SCALE OF CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE BY AIDED PERSONS TOWARDS THEIR OWN COSTS WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT SCALE. NO CONTRIBUTION WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THOSE WHOSE FINANCIAL CAPACITY IS $50,000 OR LESS.
/THE SPOKESMAN
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