XN000022-1989-02-15 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1989

1

BILL SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN LEGAL PROFESSION

* * *

THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN HONG KONG BY IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT OF UNITED KINGDOM LAWYERS TO PRACTISE HERE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY

WHEN MATHEWS,

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR MATHEWS NOTED THAT SOME RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE IMPOSED ON THE PRESENT UNFETTERED RIGHT OF UNITED KINGDOM BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS TO COME HERE TO PRACTISE.

WOULD AT THE SAME TIME, THE BILL

PERMIT A SMALL NUMBER OF LAWYERS WHO HAD WORKED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF YEARS IN JUDICIAL OR GOVERNMENT LEGAL SERVICE ΤΟ BECOME HONG KONG BARRISTERS

SOLICITORS.

OR

"THE BILL RECOGNISES THE FACT THAT THESE ARE EXPERIENCED ** HE LAWYERS WHO HAVE BEEN PRACTISING LAW IN HONG KONG FOR MANY YEARS, SAID.

IN MAY 1986, THAT THE LAW BARRISTERS TO BE

EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND, MR MATHEWS SAID THAT THE THEN UMELCO STANDING PANEL ON SECURITY RECOMMENDED BE AMENDED TO ALLOW CERTAIN COMMONWEALTH QUALIFIED ADMITTED TO THE HONG KONG BAR ON SPECIFIED CONDITIONS.

PETITION

THIS FOLLOWED CONSIDERATION OF A AUSTRALASIAN LAWYERS EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

TO

FROM A NUMBER OF

APPOINTED

A

UNDER COMMITTEE

AN CONDUCT

OVERALL FOR BARRISTERS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION

ON AUGUST 9, 1986, THE GOVERNOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE REVIEW OF THE ADMISSION AND PRACTISING CRITERIA SOLICITORS IN HONG KONG AND TO MAKE PROPOSALS FOR OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UMELCO PANEL..

EXPERIENCE

WERE

THEY WERE ALSO ASKED TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE LEGAL OFFICERS ORDINANCE AND TO CONSIDER WHAT QUALIFICATIONS AND DESIRABLE FOR A LEGAL OFFICER.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S AS A

THE

MR MATHEWS SAID THAT A LAWYER JOINING THE

LEGAL OFFICERS CHAMBERS WAS, UNDER THE

APPOINTED ORDINANCE, THAT

HAD APPOINTMENT,

ALI LEGAL OFFICER AND, BY VIRTUE OF RIGHTS OF A BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR IN HONG KONG.

1N FACT,

NO

IN REQUIREMENT

IN PRACTICE,

THE

LEGAL ONLY

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS, OFFICERS ORDINANCE THAT HE BE A QUALIFIED LAWYER, QUALIFIED LAWYERS WERE APPOINTED AS LEGAL OFFICERS.

"THE

OF AIM

THE BILL IS TO GIVE EFFECT,

THE MODIFICATIONS, TO MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF

WITH COMMITTEE,

SOME

HE

SAID.

MR MATHEWS