XN000022-1988-08-08 — Page 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1988

GOVT FORMULATES PROPOSALS ON FOREIGN LAW FIRMS

THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING THAT FOREIGN LAW FIRMS DE PERMITTED TO EMPLOY, OR ADMIT AS PARTNERS, LOCAL SOLICITORS TO ADVIST ON KONG LAN, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY).

BUT IT HAS

REJECTED A

HONG

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TO

PASS

REQUEST THAT FOREIGN LAWYERS PERMITTED TO PRACTISE HONG KONG LAW ON MOTION WITHOUT HAVING ANY EXAMINATIONS.

THIS MEANS THAT FOREIGN LAWYERS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED

IN HONG KONG'S SYSTEM OF LAW WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO DEAL WITH WORK WHICH UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE MAY ONLY B* DEALT WITH BY QUALIFIED SOLICITORS.

PASS

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO SO, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THEM то THE EXAMINATIONS AND FULFIL ALL THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS set OUT IN THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSALS HAVE BERN FORMULATED IN THE LIGHT OF HONG KONG'S GROWING IMPORTANCE AS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE.

H

"AND WE BELIEVE THE PROPOSALS WILL ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED DEMANDS FOR LEGAL SERVICES OF THE FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY.

GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR

"THEY ARE ALSO LIKELY TO PROVIDE LOCAL LAWYERS TO BECOME MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL PRACTICE THUS INCREASING THEIR RANGE OF EXPERTISE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE 8POKESMAN SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM OF CONTROL OF FOREIGN LAW FIRMS.

TO INTRODUCE

IT IS INTENDED TO BRING THE ADMISSION OF FOREIGN LAWYERS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE BY MEANS OF A STATUTORY SCHEME.

THIS WOULD REPLACE THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVING THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LAW SOCIETY.

THAT

"THERE MUST BE SOME REASONABLE ASSURANCE TO THE COMMUNITY FOREIGN LAW FIRMS PERMITTED ΤΟ PRACTISE HERE ARE OF SUBSTANTIAL REPUTATION AND INTEGRITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

..

WITH THIS IN MIND, IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE CHANGES PROPOSED SHOULD BE PROPERLY REGULATED AND THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD INTRODUCED TO GOVERN THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, DISCIPLINE CONDUCT OF FOREIGN LAW FIRMS IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

AND

/HE SAID