XN000022-1985-05-07 — Page 19

NOTE TO EDITORS:

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1985

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PRESS CONFERENCE

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THE DIRECTOR OF ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR PATRICK SHAM, WILL MEET THE MEDIA ON THURSDAY (MAY 9) AT 4 PM IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.

LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME MORE POPULAR

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THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR WITH MORE THAN 26 700 PEOPLE REQUESTING ASSISTANCE DURING THE PAST FINANCIAL YEAR.

THIS REPRESENTS A 21 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURES.

WHILE MOST OF THE ENQUIRIES INVOLVED ADVICE ON SIMPLE LEGAL MATTERS, 3 242 PEOPLE WERE GIVEN FREE CONSULTATIONS WITH DUTY LAWYERS UNDER THE SCHEME.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES DEALT WITH DURING THE YEAR INVOLVED MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS, MARITAL PROBLEMS, MATTERS CONCERNING LANDLORDS AND TENANTS, COMPENSATION CLAIMS AND CRIMINAL CASES.

THE SCHEME IS ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY, TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ADVICE TO THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT.

THE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT THE CNTA'S 65 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

+APPLICANTS ARE FIRST INTERVIEWED BY STAFF OF THE CENTRES TO IDENTIFY THEIR NEED, AND FOR GENUINE LEGAL CASES, THE DETAILS ARE RECORDED AND FORWARDED TO THE DUTY LAWYER SO THAT RESEARCH CAN BE UNDERTAKEN BEFORE CONSULTATION BEGINS,+ A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID.

+AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DUTY LAWYER CAN BE ARRANGED WITHIN TEN DAYS AT AN EVENING BUREAU OF THE APPLICANT'S CHOICE,+ HE ADDED.

INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE AT EIGHT EVENING BUREAUX OPENED FOR WEEKLY SESSIONS AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRICT OFFICES: WAN CHAI AND EASTERN ON HONG KONG ISLAND: MONG KOK, WONG TAI SIN, YAU MA TEI AND KWUN TONG IN KOWLOON; TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+LAST YEAR,