4
With regard to the experience in England, Mr Fung noted that no link had been established between the abolition of scale fees in 1973 and the recent increase in negligence claims, nor was there any move to restore scale fees there.
"The English Law Society is now consulting its members on a suggestion that there should be non-mandatory guidelines as to minimum fees, and that any solicitor charging less than these should cease to be covered by the collective indemnity scheme.
"Not only is this not a proposal to restore scale fees, but a senior English judge, who is required to approve any such scheme, has warned that it may be unlawful or contrary to public policy," he said.
"One thing is crystal clear: no new arguments have emerged whether from the legal profession or, indeed, from any quarter.
"The debate on these issues has been simmering, in some cases, for several years. Everyone has had more than ample opportunity to make his or her views known.
"There is clear public support for most of the recommendations we have made and the Government would rightly stand accused of shirking its moral responsibility owed to the community if it should fail to take them forward," said Mr Fung.
End
Labour dispute involving imported workers settled
The labour dispute involving 239 imported workers from China, their employer, the Success Civil and Foundation Company Limited and the principal contractor, the BCJ Joint Venture, was satisfactorily settled after a seven-hour conciliation meeting chaired by the Chief Labour Officer (Labour Relations), Mr Tsang Kin-woo, at the Labour Department Headquarters today (Friday).
During the meeting which concluded at about 5.30 pm, a settlement agreement was reached under which each imported worker affected by the retrenchment would be provided with an ex-gratia payment of $5,000.