TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1984
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NEW LEGAL AID SCHEME WELCOMED
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THE INTRODUCTION OF A SUPPLEMENTARY LEGAL AID SCHEME FOR THE +SANDWICH CLASS+ UNDER THE LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, WAS WELCOMED TODAY BY THE HON MARIA TAM.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS TAM SAID THAT THE SCHEME HAD RECEIVED THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND HAD RECEIVED FAVOURABLE PUBLIC RESPONSE.
+THIS IMAGINATIVE AND YET PRACTICAL LOAN SCHEME WILL BE REPAID BY SUCCESSIVE AND SUCCESSFUL LITIGANTS TO MAKE IT, ONE DAY, SELF-FINANCING, SHE SAID.
+ALTHOUGH IT IS AT PRESENT AVAILABLE ONLY IN CASES OF PERSONAL INJURY, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE LEGAL JUSTICE AVAILABLE TO MANY OF THE UNPROTECTED ONE-THIRD OF OUR POPULATION IN THE YEARS TO COME,+ SHE ADDED.
AT PRESENT THE LEGAL AID SCHEME IN CIVIL CASES WAS ESTIMATED TO COVER TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG.
IN 1981, SHE SAID, THE WORKING PARTY ON THIS SCHEME REPORTED THAT BETWEEN APRIL 1980 AND MARCH 1981, 13 754 INDIVIDUALS APPLIED FOR LEGAL AID, OF THESE 5 756 WERE SUCCESSFUL, LEAVING 7 998 CASES UNAIDED AND OUT OF THESE 7 998 CASES 1 709 WERE REFUSED BECAUSE THE APPLICANTS HAD FAILED THE MEANS TEST, ALTHOUGH THE CASES HAD MERITS.
SHE SAID THAT FROM HER EXPERIENCE IN GIVING WARD CONSULTATION SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, SHE HAD COME ACROSS CASES IN WHICH PEOPLE SOUGHT LEGAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY FAILED THE MEANS TEST FOR LEGAL AID EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO ENGAGE PRIVATE SOLICITORS AND COUNSEL TO PURSUE THEIR LAWFUL ACTION FOR DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR COMMON LAW DUTY.
SHE THANKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR GIVING HIS ATTENTION TO +THE WORTHWHILE SCHEME+.
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