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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1993
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LEGAL AID SERVICES WILL BE MORE USER-FRIENDLY
SERVICES
* * * * *
FURTHER
PROVIDED BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT WILL BE IMPROVED AND MORE USER-FRIENDLY UNDER A PERFORMANCE PLEDGE LAUNCHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, LADY PAULINE CHEUNG, SAID CLIENTS WOULD BE RECEIVED IN AN EFFICIENT AND COURTEOUS MANNER AND IN A CLEAN SERVICE ENVIRONMENT.
"WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
"WE WILL ACQUIRE NEW FACILITIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO MAKE OUR SERVICES EVEN MORE USER-FRIENDLY, SHE SAID.
THE PLEDGE COVERS THE FOLLOWING MAJOR SERVICES:
* LEGAL AID IN CIVIL MATTERS
AN APPLICANT CAN EXPECT TO COMPLETE APPLICATION FORMALITIES WITHIN AN HOUR FROM HIS ARRIVAL AT THE OFFICE. THE APPLICATION HAS RECENTLY BEEN SIMPLIFIED.
FORM
EXCEPT IN EMERGENCIES, A PERSON GRANTED LEGAL AID IN CIVIL CASES CAN EXPECT AN INITIAL APPOINTMENT WITH A LAWYER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND NO LATER THAN 28 WORKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE LEGAL AID CERTIFICATE,
* FAMILY LAW LITIGATION
A FAMILY LAW CLINIC OFFERS A NO-APPOINTMENT WALK-IN SERVICE FOR EXISTING CLIENTS AND NEW APPLICANTS SEEKING URGENT HELP.
IN EMERGENCIES, APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE FOR CLIENTS IN COURT THE
DAY.
* LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL MATTERS
SAME
AN APPLICANT CAN EXPECT TO HAVE HIS APPLICATION PROCESSED WITHIN THREE HOURS FROM HIS ARRIVAL.
LADY CHEUNG SAID THE THREE-HOUR PLEDGE WAS OF GREAT HELP ΤΟ THOSE ACCUSED WHO APPLIED FOR LEGAL AID JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE DAY SCHEDULED FOR THEIR TRIAL.
REGARDING NEW FACILITIES TO ENHANCE CONVENIENCE FOR CLIENTS, LADY CHEUNG SAID THERE WOULD BE AN INTERACTIVE VOICE PROCESSING SYSTEM TO ANSWER TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES AND AN ELECTRONIC DISPLAY QUEUING SYSTEM TO SERVE WAITING APPLICANTS.
ΤΟ MONITOR
THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICES, A DEPARTMENTAL TASK FORCE HAS BEEN SET UP.
"WE WILL BE ACTIVELY SEEKING CUSTOMER FEEDBACK TO ENSURE OUR SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, SHE SAID.
INFORMATION PAMPHLETS LISTING VARIOUS SERVICES CAN BE AT' THE DEPARTMENT OR AT DISTRICT OFFICES, CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENT, POLICE STATIONS, SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AND ESTATE OFFICES.
OBTAINED
SERVICES HOUSING
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