XN000022-1992-06-24 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1992

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**SINCE 1971, HONG KONG HAS PERMITTED FOREIGN LAW FIRMS OPERATE IN THE TERRITORY TO ADVISE ON FOREIGN LAW, MR FINDLAY SAID.

"

ΤΟ

"THERE IS AN INFORMAL PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH THE LAW SOCIETY ISSUES ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES SPECIFYING THE TERMS ON WHICH THESE FIRMS ARE PERMITTED TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG.

"THE INFORMAL PROCEDURE IS NOT SATISFACTORY TO THE LAW SOCIETY BECAUSE THESE FIRMS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THEIR RULES REGULATING PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, ETHICS AND DISCIPLINE.

"FOREIGN LAW FIRMS ARE ALSO DISSATISFIED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO STATUTORY CRITERIA THAT SET OUT THE CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND FOR THE REGULATION OF THEIR PRACTICES HERE."

IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE LAW SOCIETY WHICH WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IN PRINCIPLE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR BE IMPLEMENTED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE AND BY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, SAID MR FINDLAY.

NEW FACILITY FOR THE DEAF TO MAKE EMERGENCY CALLS EXPLORED

* * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PURSUE THE POSSIBILITY OF INSTALLING FAXLINES FOR MAKING 999 EMERGENCY CALLS BY HEARING-IMPAIRED PERSONS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

REPLYING то A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG SAID

AT PRESENT, IF THE DEAF ASKED FOR HELP THROUGH THE 999 EMERGENCY HOTLINE, THEIR MESSAGES WOULD BE ACTED UPON AS NORMAL 999 EMERGENCY CALLS.

"SHOULD THERE BE INDICATIONS THAT THE CALLER WAS UNABLE ΤΟ COMMUNICATE OR SHOULD THERE BE OTHER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, THE POLICE WILL TAKE AUTOMATIC ACTION TO LOCATE THE CALL, OR ANY OTHER ACTION AS APPROPRIATE, SHE SAID.

*

"999 EMERGENCY CALLS WILL NOT THUS PRESENT A PROBLEM

FOR THE

++

POLICE.

HEARING

OF 999

HOWEVER, MRS WONG AGREED THAT SINCE THOSE WITH SERIOUS PROBLEM DO NOT NORMALLY USE TELEPHONES, THE VERY EXISTENCE EMERGENCY CALL FACILITY MIGHT NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ASSURANCE TO THEM AND CATER TO THEIR NEEDS.

ON THE SUGGESTION TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE TELEVISION STATIONS TO PRODUCE SUBTITLES IN CHINESE FOR ALL NEWS BULLETINS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMES, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT FAVOURED A VOLUNTARY APPROACH INSTEAD OF MAKING IT MANDATORY.

SHE SAID RTHK'S NEWS REVIEW BETWEEN 8.30 AM AND 9 AM EVERY SUNDAY WAS PRESENTED WITH SIGN-LANGUAGE AND CAPTIONS.

/SUBTITLING IS

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