XN000022-1981-03-11 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1981

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THE SELECTION PROCESS INVOLVED THE PRELIMINARY IDENTIFICATION OF CONSULTANTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE COMPETENCE AND EXPERTISE- AN INVITATION TO THEM TO SUBMIT OUTLINE PROPOSALS AND FROM THIS THE COMPLETION OF A SHORT LIST- THE DRAWING UP OF SPECIFICATIONS ON WHICH THOSE SHORT LISTED COULD SUBMIT DETAILED PROPOSALS- THE SUBMISSION OF THESE PROPOSALS AND THEIR EVALUATION AND THE FINAL NEGOTIATION.

+ IT IS THE FINAL STAGE WHICH I HOPE WILL BE CONCLUDED THIS MONTH, MR DAVIES SAID.

HK BAR OPEN TO COMMONWEALTH AND IRISH PCLL HOLDERS

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THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ADMISSION OF COMMONWEALTH AND IRISH PCLL (POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF LAWS) HOLDERS TO THE HONG KONG BAR WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT SHOULD THE NUMBER ADMITTED UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BE UNACCEPTABLE OR THERE BE EVIDENCE THAT LOCAL LAW GRADUATES WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, THE POSITION WOULD BE REVIEWED.

THE HON PETER C. WONG, SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SAID THE BAR ASSOCIATION HAD STRENUOUSLY OPPOSED THE BILL AND HAD MADE STRONG REPRESENTATIONS TO UMELCO.

DURING MEETINGS WITH AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS OF WHICH MR WONG WAS THE CONVENER, THE ASSOCIATION CONTENDED THE BILL WAS LIKELY TO BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE IN THAT IT WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT LOCAL LAW GRADUATES AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ASPIRING TO BE BARRISTERS.

IT ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PRESENT AMENDMENT WAS +THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE+ AND FEARED THAT FURTHER RELAXATION OF THE ADMISSION RULES WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

WHILE APPRECIATING THE FEELING AND CONCERN OF THE BAR, MR WONG NOTED THE CONSENSUS OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WAS THAT ON BALANCE THE BILL SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.

+ IN OUR VIEW, IT IS NOT LIKELY TO OPEN THE FLOODGATES,+ MR WONG SAID.

+ANY COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN OR CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND WISHING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AMENDMENT WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME THREE HURDLES SEVEN YEARS' RESIDENCE, THE PCLL FROM HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS A FULL-TIME ONE-YEAR COURSE, AND A ONE-YEAR PUPILLAGE.+

BASICALLY, MR WONG NOTED, GOVERNMENT'S CASE IS THAT PCLL HOLDERS FROM COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND WITH SEVEN YEARS' RESIDENCE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION AS SOLICITORS.

THERE IS