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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1991
"THE UK/HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES
OUTLINED BRITISH PROPOSALS
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONALLY MANAGED CENTRES IN VIETNAM, CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE CPA.
"THERE WAS A USEFUL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONSULTATION ENVISAGED IN PARAGRAPHS 17 AND 18 OF THE DECLARATION OF THE FOURTH STEERING COMMITTEE.
"THE REPRESENTATIVES AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER EARLY DISCUSSIONS IN GENEVA.
TT
EXPANSION OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS THROUGH THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME.
"THIS WILL ENABLE A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENCES IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS TO BENEFIT FROM LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET ITS OBLIGATION UNDER THE RECENTLY ENACTED BILL OF RIGHTS TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION ΤΟ INDIGENT PERSONS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENCES," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
BY
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME JOINTLY OPERATED THE LAW SOCIETY AND BAR ASSOCIATION WILL INTRODUCE A NEW COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT SCHEME BASED ON THE PROVISION OF FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS CHARGED WITH ANY OF NINE SPECIFIED OFFENCES.
UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, ELIGIBILITY FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE "INTERESTS OF JUSTICE" PRINCIPLE REFERRED TO IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
THE CURRENT DUTY LAWYER SCHEME WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1979 AND IS SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. IT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY PERSON CHARGED IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS WITH ANY OF THE NINE SPECIFIED OFFENCES.
THESE OFFENCES INCLUDE LOITERING, POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS, GOING EQUIPPED FOR STEALING AND OTHER SIMILAR VICTIMLESS OFFENCES.
1990
IN
SUBVENTION TO THE SCHEME IN 1991-92 AMOUNTS TO $26 MILLION. IT PROVIDED FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 13,000 PERSONS IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS.
THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME HAS BEEN PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE MAGISTRATES' COURTS FOR OVER 12 YEARS. IT ALREADY HAS A NETWORK COURT LIAISON OFFICERS IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL CASES.
IN
OF
IN
/UNDER THE
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