XN000022-1989-05-02 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1989

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES SCHEME OF CONTROL

THE

(TUESDAY)

OF

ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT'S DETAILED PLAN

THE IMPLEMENTATION ITS EARLIER PROPOSAL ON FOREIGN LAW FIRMS AND FOREIGN LAWYERS,

FOR

HAS

IN A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT RELEASED TODAY, THE GOVERNMENT

TO TIGHTEN AND PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS

FORMALISE CONTROL OVER THE ADMISSION AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF FOREIGN LAWYERS AND FOREIGN LAW FIRMS.

WHICH

DOCUMENT ALSO SETS OUT IN THE CONSULTATIVE

DETAIL A SCHEME FOREIGN LAW FIRMS WOULD ENABLE

TO

OR EMPLOY

TAKE KONG HONG PARTNERSHIP HONG KONG SOLICITORS, TO ADVISE ON STRICTLY CONTROLLED CIRCUMSTANCES.

INTO

LAW

UNDER

SAID:

THAT

AND STANDING SHOULD BE BUT THAT

SHOULD BE THEY

OUTLINING THE PROPOSAL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MR MATHEWS

IN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS "THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT IT IS FOREIGN LAW FIRMS OF SUBSTANTIAL REPUTATION

ESTABLISH

HERE THEMSELVES PERMITTED TO REQUIRED TO MEET STRICT CRITERIA BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO DO SO.

OF "ONCE ESTABLISHED, MEMBERS

FOREIGN LAW FIRMS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REGIME REGULATING THE CONDUCT OF PROFESSIONAL

WHICH HONG KONG PRACTICE AND DISCIPLINE AS THAT TO SUBJECT.

"THIS WOULD PLACE FOREIGN LAW FIRMS UNDER THE DISCIPLINARY CONTROL OF THE LAW SOCIETY. HE SAID.

F

SOLICITORS

ARE

SUPERVISORY

AND

EMPLOY OR TAKE ON THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW FOREIGN LAW FIRMS TO

"BY INTO PARTNERSHIP HONG KONG SOLICITORS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID;

FIRMS FOREIGN LAW

TO ENABLING

PROVIDE A FULL INTEGRATED A FOREIGN LAW FIRM SERVICE TO THEIR CLIENTS, THE CLIENTS OF HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL A MORE STREAMLINED AND EFFICIENT SERVICE.

LEGAL WOULD

"THIS WOULD ENHANCE HONG KONG'S REPUTATION AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF COMMERCE AND FINANCE, MR MATHEWS SAID.

Fr

ΤΟ

"IT WOULD ALSO ACCORD WITH THE GROWING INTERNATIONAL TREND TOWARDS PERMITTING THE INTEGRATION OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN LAWYERS

HE ADDED. PROVIDE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ADVICE WITHIN A SINGLE FIRM,

PROVIDED "IN ADDITION, WIDER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE

IN GAIN EXPERIENCE

WORKING FOR WORLD FOR HONG KONG SOLICITORS TO CLASS FIRMS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL FIELD," HE SAID.

THE MAIN PROPOSALS IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ARE:

*

THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE TO BE AMENDED THAT FOREIGN LAWYERS WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ADVISE ASPECT OF HONG KONG LAW. (PARA 3.5)

ΤΟ

PROVIDE ON ANY

NO FOREIGN