XN000022-1984-05-16 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984

CHECK FIRST ON BIRDS OF PASSAGE', AG WARNS PEOPLE

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT HE DID NOT PROPOSE IMPOSING SPECIAL CONTROLS ON VISITING LAWYERS AND OTHER CONSULTANTS COMING HERE TO OFFER ADVICE ON EMIGRATION MATTERS AND INVESTMENT PROCEDURES IN OVERSEAS COUNTRIES.

BUT HE TOLD PEOPLE WHO SEEK ADVICE ON EMIGRATION MATTERS TO EXAMINE THE CREDENTIALS OF ALL VISITING CONSULTANTS AND TO SATISFY THEMSELVES BEFORE PROCEEDING THAT THE SCALE OF CHARGES IS REASONABLE.

THE PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER USING THE SERVICES OF THOSE FORE IGN LAWYERS WHO HAVE PERMANENT OFFICES IN HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID.

MR THOMAS WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON PAULINE NG CONCERNING THE INCREASING NUMBER OF VISITING LAWYERS AND OTHER CONSULTANTS+ COMING HERE TO OFFER ADVICE TO RESIDENTS, AND GOVERNMENT ACTION IN THE MATTER.

THE ADMINISTRATION WAS WELL AWARE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THESE +BIRDS OF PASSAGE+, WHOSE +PLUMAGE HAS MANY SHADES+ AND WHOSE +NESTING HABITS ARE VARIABLE+ BUT IN A FREE SOCIETY PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WHOM THEY CHOSE ABOUT THEIR PRIVATE AFFAIRS, HE SAID.

+ IT WOULD THEREFORE BE WRONG IN PRINCIPLE TO ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE SUPPLY OF ADVICE OR THE ADVERTISING OF THE SERVICES OF ADVISERS, MR THOMAS SAID.

IN THE CASE OF SHORT TERM VISITING LAWYERS, THERE WAS ONE CAUSE OF FRICTION BECAUSE LAWYERS FROM SUCH COUNTRIES AS THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA, WHO HAD ESTABLISHED A PERMANENT OFFICE IN HONG KONG, HAD VOLUNTARILY UNDERTAKEN TO THE LAW SOCIETY NOT TO ADVERTISE THE IR SERVICES.

+DESPITE THIS, MY INCLINATION IS NOT TO PROPOSE SPECIAL CONTROLS SOLELY APPLICABLE TO VISITING LEGAL EAGLES BECAUSE IT IS NOT REALLY FEASIBLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THEM AND THE REST OF THE FLOCK OF CONSULTANTS GIVING ADVICE ON EMIGRATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT, + HE SAID.

MANY OF THE VISITING CONSULTANTS, MR THOMAS POINTED OUT, HAD ACQUIRED GOOD REPUTATIONS.

+ I SUSPECT THEY ADVERTISE LESS AND RELY ON RECOMMENDATIONS. NO DOUBT THERE ARE OTHERS WHOSE ADVERTISEMENTS ARE EYE-CATCHING AND CHARGE LARGE SUMS FOR INDIFFERENT SERVICES.

+BUT IT SEEMS THAT COMPLAINTS FROM DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS ARE RARE,+ HE SAID.

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