36
J
Assignment of legal aid cases to a barrister
*
Following is a question by the Hon Elsie Tu and a written reply by the acting Chief Secretary, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council of the following details concerning a junior barrister in private practice who is the husband of the Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Department :
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
how many times (if any) this barrister has been assigned in civil and criminal legal aid cases during the period 1 January 1994 to 1 May 1995;
what was the duration originally contemplated in each of these civil and criminal assignments:
whether the nature of the assigned civil and criminal cases included mitigation, and/or appeal against sentence or conviction or against both; and
what remuneration was paid in respect of each civil and criminal case?
Reply:
Mr President.
The barrister in question has some 30 years' professional experience. During the period from 1 January 1994 to 1 May 1995 he was assigned 17 legal aid cases, and the remuneration paid on these cases up to mid-June 1995 amount to $820,300. Detailed answers to questions (a) - (d) are set out in the following table :-