XN000022-1989-12-16 — Page 5

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16,

1989

AG SPEAKS ON FUTURE OF LEGAL DEPARTMENT

ATTORNEY

NOW AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE THE LAWYERS IN THE GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAVE BEFORE THEM THE PROSPECT OF EXCITING, CHALLENGING WORK OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE OF THE LAW FACULTY

THE "FOR

ABLE AND OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, MR MATHEWS SAID:

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMBITIOUS, THE

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IN A POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY HAVE NEVER LOOKED BETTER.

LP

17 HE NOTED THAT WASTAGE RATE HAD DROPPED FROM OVER

SEE A LAST YEAR TO 8.5 PER CENT THIS YEAR. HE EXPECTED TO GROWTH IN THE NUMBERS OF LOCAL LAWYERS WHO WOULD ENTER AND CHAMBERS.

PER CENT CONTINUED REMAIN

IN

A WITH

STAFF MR MATHEWS SAID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS,

A WIDE OF 250 LAWYERS, WOULD CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE

RANGE OF LEGAL WORK THAT WAS MOST APPROPRIATELY PERFORMED WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT.

LEGAL THIS WOULD INCLUDE CONSTITUTIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LAW,

ADVISING POLICY QUESTIONS, LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING, ADVICE ON PUBLIC LAW, ON CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS, SERVICING THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION AND MANY OTHER FUNCTIONS.

OF

BUT

LEGAL LIMITATION ON

THE IN

PUBLIC RETAINING A

HE SAID HIS CHAMBERS WOULD PLACE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK OUT TO PRIVATE PRACTICE, BOTH TO TAKE ACCOUNT

BECAUSE IT WAS THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND INTEREST THAT THE BAR HAD EXPERIENCE OF CROWN WORK, FORENSIC CAPACITY WITHIN CHAMBERS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, HE SAID, WOULD HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF LOCAL LAWYERS OF TALENT AND EXPERIENCE, BUT WITH EXPATRIATE LAWYERS CONTINUING TO HAVE A ROLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

HE SAID THAT MANY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE SUPPLIED

HIS CHAMBERS.

IS,

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THOSE WOULD BE WHAT MR MATHEWS TERMED 'CORE' SERVICES. 'THAT LEGAL SERVICES CAN ONLY PROPERLY BE PROVIDED FROM WITHIN GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THEIR NATURE IS SUCH THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT OF THE THEY CAN BE READILY PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR BECAUSE

ADVICE JUDGMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE OR BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR LEGAL

ON CLOSE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS CALLS FOR A CONSISTENT APPROACH BASED CONTACT," HE SAID.

MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS SCOPE FOR CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE PLACED WITH PRIVATE SECTOR,

/"THIS WORK

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