XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

+ IT IS OF CARDINAL IMPORTANCE THAT LEGAL AID IS SEEN TO BE INDEPENDENTLY ADMINISTERED, HE SAID.

+HOWEVER MISTAKEN THEY MAY BE, THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN DOUBTS ABOUT DIRECT GOVERNMENT PROVISION OF LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES WHERE BOTH THE PROSECUTION AND THE DEFENCE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE SAME EMPLOYER.

+ IT IS VITAL FOR OUR CITIZENS TO BE REASSURED OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THOSE DEFENDING THEIR INTERESTS IN THE FACE OF STATE PROSECUTION, HE ADDED.

MR WONG HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE WAS MERIT IN THE PROPOSAL THAT AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE LEGAL AID SHOULD BE INDEPENDENTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

HE ALSO PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS EFFORTS IN EXPANDING THE LEGAL AID AND FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEMES IN RECENT YEARS.

+DUR ING THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED AND ENCOURAGED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHEMES WHICH HAVE, WITH MINIMAL EXPENDITURE, BROKEN NEW GROUND IN THE PROVISION OF MUCH NEEDED FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT UNDER THE TELEPHONE-LAW SCHEME, 60 000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR WERE NOW ABLE TO OBTAIN, IN CANTONESE AND ENGLISH, AUTHORITATIVE LEGAL INFORMATION ON 52 LEGAL TOPICS RANGING FROM THE LAW ON GAMBLING, TO DIVORCE, WILLS AND CONTRACTS, AND HOW TO FIND A SOLICITOR.

CO-ORDINATION NECESSARY FOR FUTURE TECHNICAL EDUCATION

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TO MEET THE NEED OF PREVOCATIONAL STUDENTS FOR FURTHER STUDIES, THERE SHOULD BE GREATER AND MORE EFFECTIVE CO-ORDINATION OF PREVOCATIONAL AND POST-SECONDARY TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE LONG TERM, THE HON CHAN YING-LUN SAID ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE POLICY DEBATE TODAY (THURSDAY).

+AT PRESENT, PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS COME UNDER THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES UNDER THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND POLYTECHNICS UNDER THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE.

+1 WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IN THE CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE THREE BODIES CONCERNING RECOGNITION OF THE ACADEMIC LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WITH A VIEW TO ESTABLISHING A LINK IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION FROM SECONDARY TO TERTIARY LEVEL, HE SAID.

/HE RECALLED