XN000022-1978-12-07 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1978

GOVERNOR SEES FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TODAY (THURSDAY) TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, WHICH IS RECEIVING ENCOURAGING RESPONSE, DURING A VISIT TO EASTERN DISTRICT.

IN THE COURSE OF HIS VISIT, SIR MURRAY SAW LAWYERS GIVING LEGAL ADVICE TO PEOPLE AT THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN), AND WAS TOLD THAT BOOKINGS FOR THE SERVICE HAD TO BE MADE TWO WEEKS AHEAD.

HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE SCHEME BY MR. B. TISDALL, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE SCHEME AND MR. S.Č. WILLIAMS, ACTING ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SCHEME.

SIR MURRAY WAS ALSO TOLD THAT A TOTAL OF 140 LAWYERS INCLUDING 40 EXPATRIATES WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND 131 CASES HAD BEEN HANDLED SINCE THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED A MONTH AGO.

OF THESE, 35 INVOLVED MONEY MATTERS AND COMMERCIAL DISPUTES, 26 ON MATTERS BETWEEN THE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS, 20 ON DIVORCE, SEPARATION OR OTHER MATRIMONIAL MATTERS, 14 ON COMPENSATION OR DAMAGES, 12 ON ESTATE ADMINISTRATION, SIX ON WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, AND THE REMAINING 18, MISCELLANEOUS CASES.

THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED BY THE LAW SOCIETY ON NOVEMBER 2 WITH FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER EXPENSES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. AT PRESENT THERE ARE TWO LEGAL ADVICE CENTRES IN THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN EASTERN DISTRICT AND MONG KOK.

UNDER THE SCHEME, THREE PRACTISING LAWYERS ATTEND EACH CENTRE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS EVERY THURSDAY EVENING TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE TO PEOPLE REFERRED TO THEM BY VARIOUS AGENCIES AND CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.

EARLIER, SIR MURRAY VISITED CHAI WAN AND WAS BRIEFED ON THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THERE BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (HONG KONG) MRS. MABLE HAYES, THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (EASTERN) MR. CHARLES GATELY, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS.

THESE INCLUDED THE CHAI WAN CIVIC CENTRE WITH A MULTI- PURPOSE INDOOR GAMES HALL SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN MID-1981, THE LEI YUE MUN PARK, A NEW MULTI-STOREY MARKET FOR YUE WAN ESTATE AND RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS FACILITIES FOR CHAI WAN.

SIR MURRAY ALSO LEARNT ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ESTATE BEING BUILT IN CHAI WAN AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CHAI WAN WEST ESTATE.

HE VIEWED THE DEVELOPMENTS IN CHAI WAN FROM THE ROOF OF A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING AND TOURED THE AREA, LATER HE WENT TO THE TOP OF A HIGH-RISE BLOCK IN YUE WAN ESTATE FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF CHAI WAN.

/SIR MURRAY.....