XN000022-1973-03-21 — Page 2

1

1

Wednesday, March 21, 1973

LEGAL AID SCHEME TO BE EXPANDED

To Cover Serious Crime Cases In District Court

Legal aid will, under some proposed new rules, be made available

to people tried in the District Court for serious crimes from April 1.

The Director of Legal Aid announced today that on March 28, the

Legislative Council would be asked to approve the Legal Aid in Criminal Cases

(Amendment) Rules 1973.

These rules, he said, were designed to make legal aid available to those charged in the District Court with crimes which, if tried on indictment (before a judge and jury), would be punishable on conviction by imprisonment

for 14 years or more.

"Statistics indicate that this will mean that legal aid will be

available for more than half of the criminal cases tried in the District Court,"

he added.

Legal aid is already available for those standing trial in the Supreme

Court as well as for criminal appeals from decisions of magistrates, the

District Court and the Supreme Court,

During the 12 months ended January 31, 1973, legal aid was granted to a total of 183 applicants in connection with criminal trials in the Supreme

Court and for 56 criminal appeals.

Applications for legal aid for criminal cases or appeals should be

made by completing and lodging the prescribed forms with the Director of Legal Aid.

Application Forms are obtainable from the Legal Aid Department, at Victoria District Court, Battery Path, Hong Kong, or, if an applicant for aid

is in prison custody, from the Commissioner of Prisons.

0

/2