XN000022-1989-05-16 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1989

1

CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON FOREIGN LAW FIRMS GENERATES INTEREST

FIRMS

MR JEREMY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,

MATHEWS, SAID ABOUT 3,600 COPIES OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON FOREIGN LAW HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED SINCE IT WAS RELEASED A FORTNIGHT AGO.

MR MATHEWS TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG

(TUESDAY) THAT OF ARCHITECTS TODAY

CONSULTATIVE THE GENERATED CONSIDERABLE INTEREST.

KONG INSTITUTE

DOCUMENT

HAD

A

NUMBER

OF

FAVOURABLE

COMMENTS

ON

THE

"WE HAVE RECEIVED DETAILS AND HAVE ALSO RECEIVED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM,

"THIS WE WELCOME AND WE LOOK FORWARD

VIEWS. HE SAID.

TO RECEIVING MANY MORE

ΤΟ LIKE WOULD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE GOVERNMENT

NOT ONLY FROM THE LEGAL ENCOURAGE A TRAFFIC OF INFORMED OPINION,

AND FROM PROFESSION BUT FROM OTHER PROFESSIONS, FROM FOREIGN LAWYERS THE CLIENTS OF LAWYERS.

"WE HAVE AN OPEN MIND ON ALL OF THESE DETAILS,

+

HE SAID.

MONTH CONSULTATION PERIOD THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED A THREE ON THE DOCUMENT AND COMMENTS SHOULD BE MADE BY JULY 31.

MR MATHEWS SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL ON FOREIGN LAW WAS PART OF THE WORLD-WIDE TREND TOWARDS INTERNATIONALISATION PROFESSIONS.

FIRMS IN THE

FOR DEVELOPMENT,

IT RECOGNISES THE "WE SEE IT AS A HEALTHY

CENTRE FOR FINANCE AND GROWING IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG AS A WORLD BUSINESS.

IS A VISIBLE KONG'S ECONOMY AND

"THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN LAW FIRMS IN HONG KONG DEMONSTRATION OF THE STRENGTH AND VIGOUR OF HONG ITS ATTITUDES TOWARDS FREE TRADE.

"AT

THE

SAME

TIME.

WE FULLY

RECOGNISE

AND

AND TO

UNRESERVEDLY INDEPENDENCE,

PROVIDE THE

SUBSCRIBE TO THE WISH OF THE PROFESSION TO MAINTAIN ITS

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS TO PROMOTE THE HIGHEST COMMUNITY WITH A HIGHLY EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE.

"WE BELIEVE THAT OUR

SAID.

PROPOSAL FULFILS

ALL

THESE

AIMS."

HE

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL ON FOREIGN LAW FIRMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

(A)

THE

THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD, IN CONSULTATION WITH LAW SOCIETY, DEVISE A STATUTORY SCHEME

ADMISSION, FORMAL CRITERIA FOR JUSTICE, OF FOREIGN LAW FIRMS;

THE

LAYING THROUGH THE

DOWN

CHIEF

/(B) THAT THE