XN000022-1979-07-14 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1979

GOVERNOR TO GO TO GENEVA

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IS TO ATTEND THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT GENEVA ON JULY 20 AND 21 TO DISCUSS THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM.

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION, MR. DAVID FORD, AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER, DR. DAVID WILSON.

THE PARTY WILL LEAVE HONG KONG FOR LONDON ON MONDAY (JULY 16) FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS IN WHITEHALL BEFORE TRAVELLING TO GENEVA LATER IN THE WEEK AS PART OF THE BRITISH DELEGATION TO THE CONFERENCE.

THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (JULY 22).

DUTY LAWYER SCHEME BENEFITS 1,800 PEOPLE

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MORE THAN 1,800 PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF ITS OPERATION.

COMMENTING ON THE ENCOURAGING RESPONSE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LAW SOCIETY LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME SAID: THE SCHEME HAS BECOME ACCEPTED AS SOME PROTECTION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL- AND IT EXTENDS LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO A SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT, FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES, WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNREPRESENTED.

+ IT IS CONFIDENTLY ANTICIPATED THAT THE SCHEME WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL MAGISTRACIES. IF IT IS EVER TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME, IT WILL ALSO NEED TO COVER MORE OFFENCES THAN AT PRESENT, IN PARTICULAR OFFENCES OF DISHONESTY AND OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON, HE SAID.

THE SCHEME, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, ENABLES DEFENDANTS BROUGHT BEFORE MAGISTRATES TO HAVE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION BY LAWYERS ON THE SPOT WHETHER THEY WISH TO PLEAD GUILTY OR NOT. IT IS FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTERED BY THE LAW SOCIETY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BAR ASSOCIATION.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE NO MEANS OR MER IT TESTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE SCHEME.

/AT PRESENT.