XN000022-1987-01-07 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987

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+AND WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND, PLANS WERE DRAWN UP FOR AN EXPANDED PROGRAMME OF LOCAL TRADE FAIRS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OUTSTANDING FACILITIES THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE WILL OFFER FOR TRADE PROMOTION WHEN IT OPENS IN 1988, + SHE ADDED.

FINALLY, MISS DUNN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS AGAIN TDC'S DEEP APPRECIATION OF THE PERSONAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT GIVEN TO THEM BY THE LATE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, DURING HIS GOVERNORSHIP.

+WHEN WE NEEDED HIS GUIDANCE OR PRESENCE SIR EDWARD NEVER FAILED US,+ SHE SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT SIR EDWARD FERVENTLY BELIEVED IN THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TRADE TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC AS WELL AS POLITICAL SECURITY.

+THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO DO ITS PART TO FULFIL SIR EDWARD'S VISION FOR HONG KONG, SHE SAID.

RULES TO AVOID LEGAL DEFENCE DUPLICATION APPROVED *****

THE PURPOSE OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (REPRESENTATION) RULES 1986 WAS TO REQUIRE A SOLICITOR WHO HAD ACCEPTED INSTRUCTIONS TO ACT FOR DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE HIGH COURT OR IN THE COURT OF APPEAL TO GIVE FORMAL NOTICE OF THAT FACT TO THE REGISTRAR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE RULES, MR THOMAS SAID AT PRESENT THERE WAS NO SUCH REQUIREMENT AND ON OCCASIONS MORE THAN TWO DEFENCE TEAMS HAD TURNED UP AT COURT TO APPEAR FOR THE SAME DEFENDANT.

+OFTEN THIS INVOLVES A WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY IF THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID HAS UNDERTAKEN THE DEFENCE AND LATER, WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, A PRIVATE SOLICITOR HAS BEEN SEPARATELY INSTRUCTED.+

MR THOMAS NOTED THAT THE BAR, THE LAW SOCIETY, THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE CROWN ALL CONSIDERED THAT THESE RULES WOULD HELP TO AVOID SUCH DUPLICATION OF EFFORT, AND HAD WELCOMED THEM.

THE RULES HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE.

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