XN000022-1982-03-02 — Page 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 2. 1982

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MR MILLER SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE LAW SOCIETY'S SCHEMES WAS DUE LARGELY TO ITS INDEPENDENCE, DESPITE RECEIVING A SUBVENTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

+THE SUBVENTION UNDERLINES THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK, WHICH IS UNDERTAKEN BY A WILLING PARTNERSHIP THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND THE GOVERNMENT.

THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE LAW SOCIETY'S SCHEMES AND THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT ARE THAT APPLICANTS FOR THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME AND DUTY LAWYER SCHEME SERVICES NEED NOT MEET A MEANS TEST AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS GIVEN ONLY IN MAGISTRACIES DEALING WITH CRIMINAL LAW.

BUT DEPARTMENT LAWYERS OR SOLICITORS ASSIGNED BY IT PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO AIDED CLIENTS UNDER BOTH CIVIL LAW AND CRIMINAL LAW IN THE HIGH COURTS AND DISTRICT COURTS.

MR MILLER SAID THERE WERE STILL COMMON LEGAL PROBLEMS WHICH ARE USUALLY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE LAW SOCIETY'S SCHEMES AND THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT. +AN EXAMPLE IS THE GRANT OF PROBATE, WITHOUT WHICH MONEY IN BANK ACCOUNTS AND ASSETS IN SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES CANNOT BE OBTAINED BY THE DECEASED'S DEPENDENTS. WE HAVE THIS TYPICAL SCENARIO A FAMILY DEATH, A SMALL ESTATE, NO. WILL.+

THE PROBATE REGISTRY CAN RARELY ASSIST SUCH CASES WHILE LAWYERS FEES ARE OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE VALUE OF THE ESTATE INVOLVED, HE SAID THE RESULT IS THAT MONEY REMAINS UNDISTRIBUTED IN THE BANK AND THE FAMILY SUFFER. ONE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO ENCOURAGE MAIN FAMILY BREADWINNERS TO MAKE PROPER WILLS. ANOTHER

IS THE INTRODUCTION OF STANDARDIZED FORMS FOR WILLS TO MAKE THE PROCESS SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE.+

REFERRALS TO THE FREE LEGAL AID SCHEME AND THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME RUN BY THE LAW SOCIETY ARE MADE FROM OVER 100 AGENCIES, INCLUDING ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, ALL BRANCHES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SALVATION ARMY NEIGHBOURHOOD ADVICE-ACTION COUNCIL. HONG KONG FAMILY WELFARE SOCIETY, CARITAS FAMILY SERVICE, AND OVER A DOZEN OTHER VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, IN ADDITION TO THE SCHEME'S HEADQUARTERS AT SWIRE HOUSE, FIFTH FLOOR, ROOM 1506 (TELEPHONE 5-224436).

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ON HK ISLAND ****

LUN FAT STREET IN WAN CHAI WILL BE DESIGNATED AS A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITED ZONE FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 5).

UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THIS ROAD.

IN SHEK O, THE ACCESS ROAD TO TAI LONG WAN VILLAGE WILL BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ALSO FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 5).

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