XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 53

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

+HERE I THINK A REVIEW WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FIRSTLY TO THE DISCHARGED PRISONER WHO IS IN NEED OF SUCH HELP, DEPENDING ON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SECONDLY TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WHICH HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THESE PERSONS WHO HAVE EXPIATED THE IR CRIME AND ARE REJOINING SOCIETY, HE SAID,

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE FUND BE EXPANDED IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY TO ASSIST EX-PRISONERS TO GET BACK INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY AS REFORMED INDIVIDUALS.

IN THIS RESPECT, HE SAID A MULTI-AGENCY APPROACH SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN WHICH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS COULD BE CALLED UPON EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE.

+SPEC IF ICALLY, ASSISTANCE WHERE SUITABLE COULD BE GIVEN TO TRIAD MEMBERS WHO HAVE OR ARE PREPARED TO RENOUNCE THEIR TRIAD CONNECTIONS,+ HE STRESSED.

THANK ING MR CHEONG-LEEN FOR HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BILL AND HIS VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS FOR DISBURS ING BENEFITS FROM THE FUND. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HAD GIVEN ASSURANCE TO REVIEW THE PROCEDURES FOR AXINISTERING THE FUND IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY DESERVING CASES AND TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO THEM.

+EACH CASE WILL, OF COURSE, BE DEALT WITH ON ITS MERITS, + MR THOMAS SAID.

LEGAL AID EXTENDED TO OVERSEAS CASES

*****

A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES (AMENDMENT) RULES 1986 WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE RESOLUTION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THE AMENDED RULES, WHICH WERE MADE BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE, WERE AIMED AT EXTENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL AID TO PROCEEDINGS OVERSEAS WHERE EVIDENCE WAS TO BE TAKEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN HONG KONG.

+THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN RULE 2(B),+ HE NOTED.

+RULE 3 MAKES CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID TO ENGAGE OVERSEAS LAWYERS TO REPRESENT THE ACCUSED

PERSON IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS OVERSEAS,+ SIR DAVID SAID.

+AND RULE 5 CONSEQUENTIALLY ADDS THE PROVISION FOR PAYMENT OF FEES TO SUCH OVERSEAS LAWYERS,+ HE ADDED.

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