XN000022-1982-03-02 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1982

APPLICATIONS FOR AID FROM THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS AT SINCERE BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD, CENTRAL (TELEPHONE 5-457036), AND THE DÉPARTMENT'S BRANCH OFFICE IN KOWLOON AT. RITZ BUILDING, EIGHTH FLOOR, 625 NATHAN ROAD (TELEPHONE 3-302241).

ANOTHE TEK JEPRATMENT'S

IN ADDITION, A MOBILE OFFICE IN THE FORM OF A VAN SPENDS A DAY A WEEK IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE NEW JERRITORIES, AND ENQUIRIES ABOUT THIS MAY BE MADE THROUG TWO OFFICES.

THE LAW SOCIETY ALSO OPERATES A LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME. THOUGH FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IT IS STAFFED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FROM THE SOCIETY. THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE. STARTING WITH TWO EVENING BUREAUX IN EASTERN AND MONGKOK DISTRICT OFFICES IN 1978, THE LAW SOCIETY'S FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME HAS SINCE EXPANDED ITS SERVICES TO FOUR OTHER DISTRICTS IN WONG TAI SIN, WAN CHAI, TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN. ITS 169 LAWYERS GAVE ADVICE ON 3 500 CASES IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1981.

WHILE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE LAW SOCIETY'S FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME IS TO HELP THE LESS ADVANTAGED+ MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, EXPLAINED MR JOHN MILLER, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SCHEME +THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE WELL ABLE TO HIRE THEIR OWN LAWYERS TRY TO OBTAIN THE SERVICE. IN SUCH CASES, WE FIND IT NECESSARY TO TELL THESE PEOPLE VERY COURTEOUSLY TO TAKE THEIR PROBLEMS TO A PRIVATE SOLICITOR.+

ANOTHER LEGAL AID PLAN OPERATED BY THE LAW SOCIETY IS THE DUTY LAWYERS SCHEME. IT HAS 151 LAWYERS, PAID THROUGH A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION, PROVIDING LIMITED LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN MAGISTRACIES COVERING SCHEDULED OFFENCES IN CONNECTION WITH UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES, LOITERING, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION, GOING EQUIPPED FOR STEALING, OBSTRUCTING OR ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER AND RESISTING ARREST. POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS, OFFENSIVE WEAPONS, DANGEROUS DRUGS FOR TRAFFICKING AND EQUIPMENT FIT FOR CONSUMPTION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS.

IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1981, DUTY LAWYERS ASSISTED 7 400 DEFENDANTS WHO FACED A TOTAL OF 9 700 CHARGES. CLOSE TO 30 PER CENT OF THESE DEFENDANTS PLEADED GUILTY WHILE OF THE 70 PER CENT WHO PLEADED NOT GUILTY, 1 100 WERE CONVICTED AND NEARLY 2 000 ACQUITTED,

LIMITED LEGAL REPRESENTATION UNDER THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME IS NOW AVAILABLE IN FIVE MAGISTRACIES -- CAUSEWAY BAY, NORTH KOWLOON, SAN PO KONG, SOUTH KOWLOON, TSUEN WAN AND PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY TO EXTEND THE SCHEME TO WESTERN MAGISTRACY LATER THIS YEAR, MR MILLER SAID.

THE NUMBER OF DUTY LAWYERS INCREASED FROM 115 TO 150 IN 1981 AND THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVING IN THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME FROM 150 TO 169.

AND

/MR MILLER SAID