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The amendment to clause 4 seeks to give the Director of Legal Aid the discretion to waive the financial eligibility limit in any civil case where an applicant has been granted a legal aid certificate in proceedings in which a breach of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (Cap 383) or an inconsistency with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong is an issue.
The amendment to clause 6 is mainly technical in nature.
The amendment to clause & seeks to clarify some technical concerns expressed by the legal profession.
The amendment to clause 9 seeks to remove the potential criminality for people who breach confidentiality.
The amendment to clause 12 seeks to clarify how the Director of Legal Aid will apportion the contribution payable by a person aided under both the standard legal aid scheme and the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme.
The amendment to clause 13(2)(a) is related to the amendment to clause 4. This also clarifies that applicants will not be subject to double merits tests.
The amendment to clause 13(2)(d) better defines the excepted proceedings and clarifies the term "derivatives of securities".
Mr President, I beg to move.
End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995
Amend clauses of Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill
Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mrs Elizabeth Bosher, in committce stage amendments of the clauses of the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr Chairman,
I move that the clauses specified be amended as set out in the paper circulated to Members.