XN000022-1978-10-29 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1978

TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, HONG KONG COULD WELL ADOPT THE +CONTINGENCY FEE+ SYSTEM OR THE +LEGAL INSURANCE+ SCHEME. BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE USED SUCCESSFULLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN CERTAIN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

A CONTINGENCY FEE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY SUPERVISED IN ORDER TO PREVENT ABUSE, AND TO RETAIN ETHICAL STANDARDS.

+THE CONTINGENCY FEE SYSTEM COULD WELL BE USED, FOR INSTANCE, FOR CIVIL PROCEEDINGS TO RECOVER DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASES. THE APPELLANT WOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED TO PAY A COMPARATIVELY SMALL FEE AS A DEPOSIT TO HIS LAWYER FOR REPRESENTATION.

+ IF THE CASE WAS WON AND DAMAGES AWARDED, THEN THE SUM SO AWARDED WOULD BE SHARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH PROPORTIONS AS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN AGREED BETWEEN THE LAWYER AND THE CLIENT.

+A LEGAL FEES INSURANCE SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +COULD BE OPERATED ALONG THE SAME LINES AS INSURANCE FOR MEDICAL FEES - SUCH AS HOSPITAL FEES AND DOCTORS FEES.

+ IN PRACTICE, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHICH PROVIDED SUCH SERVICES COULD DO VERY WELL OUT OF IT FINANCIALLY, AND THE SYSTEM SHOULD ATTRACT A LOT OF CLIENTS ON A MODERATE PREMIUM BASIS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

INDUSTRIAL BOOM IN TUEN MUN ******

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GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT TUEN MUN ARE COPING WITH A SHORT-TERM PROBLEM THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE TO FACE A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN INDUSTRIAL BOOM IN THE NEW TOWN.

DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS, 20 MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BUILDINGS HAVE SPRUNG UP IN TUEN MUN. THERE ARE ANOTHER 21 FACTORY BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WORK WILL SOON BEGIN ON FOUR MORE.

THE SENIOR ESTATE SURVEYOR OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, MR. VICTOR LEUNG, SAID TODAY THE RAPID INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION IN THE TOWN HAD CREATED A GREAT DEMAND FOR WORKERS. +THE RESULT IS THAT THERE IS A BIT OF A SHORTAGE, ALTHOUGH NOT ACUTE, FACTORY OWNERS ARE BRINGING IN WORKERS FROM OTHER HONG KONG AND THE NEW TERRITORIES,

AND SOME PARTS OF

/+BUT.....