XN000022-1980-10-22 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980

MR WONG SAID THE DELAYS IN PRODUCING LEGISLATION MAY BE DUE TO THE STAFF SHORTAGE AND WORKLOAD OF THE LAW DRAFTING DIVISION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

+THERE IS A TENDENCY TO TAKE THE WORK OF THE LAW DRAFTING DIVISION FOR GRANTED.

TASK.

+THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION IS A SPECIALISED AND DIFFICULT

+ IT NOT ONLY TAKES TIME IF MISTAKES ARE TO BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM BUT REQUIRES A HIGH DEGREE OF LEGAL EXPERTISE.

+ IT REQUIRES LAWYERS OF HIGH INTELLECTUAL CALIBRE WHO ARE PREPARED TO SPECIALISE IN LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING AT THE EXPENSE OF A CAREER IN A MORE EXCITING AREA OF LEGAL PRACTICE.+

HE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS PAYING SUFFICIENT ATTENTION TO THE NEED TO RECRUIT SPECIALIST LAW DRAFTSMEN AND PROVIDING REALISTIC REMUNERATION AND CAREER PROSPECTS FOR THOSE THAT IT WAS ALREADY FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE RECRUITED.

NOTING THAT THE POST OF SOLICITOR GENERAL WAS ABOLISHED SINCE THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR, MR WONG SUGGESTED: +PERHAPS IT IS NOW TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF THE SITUATION, AND IF NECESSARY CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE ORGANISATION STRUCTURE AND STAFFING OF THE DEPARTMENT.+

SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM REQUIRED

*****

THE HON WONG LAM TODAY REPEATED AN EARLIER APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

+ I HOPE THERE WILL SHORTLY BE A NEW BREAKTHROUGH AND A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM, SO AS TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON HONG KONG, AND THAT ALL DEVELOPMENT PLANS ALREADY DRAWN UP WILL CONTINUE AT THEIR FORMER PACE TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

MR WONG, SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SAID HONG KONG WAS BEING AFFECTED BY THE RAPID-INCREASE OF POPULATION WHICH HAD MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED OBJECTIVES.

ATTRIBUTING THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS POPULATION GROWTH TO THE EXCESSIVE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, MR WONG SAID: +WE MUST ACT WITH DETERMINATION, ~COURAGE AND CAUTION TO OBTAIN A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.

/CN THE