XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986

+WE MUST ACCEPT THAT IF WE NEED EXPERIENCED EXPATRIATE LAWYERS, WE MUST EXPECT TO PROVIDE THEM, AS TO OTHER EXPATRIATE PUBLIC SERVANTS, WITH SPECIAL LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS, MR THOMAS SAID.

QUOTING A RECENT CASE IN WHICH A POST OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL WAS ADVERTISED, HE SAID THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SINGLE APPLICATION FROM A HONG KONG LAWYER.

MR THOMAS NOTED THAT AS HONG KONG WAS STILL UNDENIABLY SHORT OF ABLE AND EXPERIENCED LOCAL LAWYERS, THOSE SHORTAGES ONLY AGGRAVATED THE PRESSURES ON THE MOST TALENTED TO GO WHERE THE REWARDS WERE HIGHEST.

+PRIVATE PRACTICE IN HONG KONG IS GENERALLY MORE LUCRATIVE THAN

CRATIVE GOVERNMENT SERVICE. THIS MEANS THAT MANY OF OUR YOUNG LOCAL COUNSEL ARE TEMPTED TO LEAVE GOVERNMENT SERVICE SOON AFTER THEIR TRAINING IS COMPLETE. IT ALSO MEANS THAT ONLY RARELY DOES A LOCAL LAWYER WANT TO LEAVE PRIVATE PRACTICE AND JOIN MY CHAMBERS, + HE SAID.

+AS A COMMUNITY, WE MUST CONSIDER, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, WAYS AND MEANS OF INCREASING STILL FURTHER THE NUMBERS OF LOCAL LAW GRADUATES AND THE NUMBERS OF LOCAL LAWYERS OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, MR THOMAS SAID.

TURNING TO A DIFFERENT SUBJECT- THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE, MR THOMAS THANKED THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN FOR HIS GENEROUS PRAISE OF THE FORCE AND SAID THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE SITE NOW HOUSING THE FORCE'S TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING CENTRE AT KOWLOON BAY A PERMANENT ALLOCATION WAS BEING LOOKED AT SYMPATHETICALLY BY THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS.

INTERVENTION COULD PREJUDICE GATT STANDING

*****

GOVERNMENT'S INTERVENTION IN INDUSTRY COULD PREJUDICE HONG KONG'S STANDING IN THE GATT AND MIGHT INVITE RETALIATORY ACTION UNDER THE GATT CODE ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING DUTIES, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT +SHRUG OFF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES+ TO INDUSTRY.

+ANY FACTORY OPENING IN A ZONED INDUSTRIAL AREA IS ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS BY A FORMED PUBLIC ROAD, WITH ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLIES AVAILABLE, AND TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS NOT ONLY TO SUPPLIERS AND AGENTS WITHIN HONG KONG, BUT WORLDWIDE.

/+THE EXISTENCE