XN000022-1992-07-01 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1992

I THE

THE

SUGGESTION

AND K C

HAVE LISTENED WITH INTEREST TO MR ZACHARY WONG'S THAT

GOVERNMENT FREE LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICE FUNDED BY THOSE PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES BE STRENGTHENED, AND TO DR LAM'S CRITICISMS OF THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT IN PROVIDING LEGAL AID TO THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. I WILL CERTAINLY ASK

NEED FOR WORKING GROUP ON LEGAL AID POLICY REVIEW TO LOOK INTO THE

REVIEW THE FREE LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICES TO BE STRENGTHENED, AND TO

ILLEGAL EXISTING POLICY AND PRACTICE ON THE PROVISION OF LEGAL AID TO IMMIGRANTS AND OVERSTAYERS FROM CHINA.

FINALLY, IT REMAINS FOR ME TO REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL AID SERVICES. ALTHOUGH LEGAL AID HAS OFTEN BEEN REGARDED AS A FORM OF

SERVICE,

PART IT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST AN INTEGRAL WELFARE

OF THE A THEORETICAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, FOR IT IS LEGAL AID WHICH TRANSLATES RIGHT TO JUSTICE INTO A PRACTICAL REALITY. LEGAL AID THUS LIES AT THE

OF HEART

THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. BUT WE MUST STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN PROVIDING PUBLICLY FUNDED LEGAL AID AND RELATED SERVICES TO MEET

WHICH GENUINE

MAY CASES OF NEED, AND EXCESSIVE PUBLIC ENCOURAGE EXORBITANT AND NUGATORY LITIGATION. THE VIEWS WHICH MEMBERS RIGHT HAVE EXPRESSED THIS EVENING WILL HELP US TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS MEMBERS HAVE MADE, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKING LEGAL AID POLICY REVIEW WILL LOOK INTO ALL OF THEM CAREFULLY. ALSO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP BEFORE THEY ARE FINALISED.

EXPENDITURE

MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT, I SUPPORT THE MOTION.

WHICH

GROUP ON WE WILL COMMENT ON THE

COUNTRY PARKS POLICY EXPLAINED

THE GOVERNMENT IS ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO DEFEND AND PROTECT COUNTRY PARKS FROM EROSION AND INCURSION BY INCOMPATIBLE AND UNDESIRABLE DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD REPLACE HILLS AND TREES WITH HOUSES AND LAMP POSTS.

AND

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT LANDS, MR TONY EASON, WHEN WINDING UP THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY PARKS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THIS (WEDNESDAY EVENING.

HE SAID BROADLY SPEAKING, COUNTRY PARK LAND WAS PRESUMED NOT TO BE DEVELOPED FOR.

BUT, IN CASES WHERE BUILDINGS FOR COUNTRY PARK AND OTHER UNAVOIDABLE COMMUNITY FACILITIES ARE NEEDED, ENCROACHMENT KEPT TO THE MINIMUM. THIS MEANS THAT ALTERNATIVES WOULD BE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED.

WOULD BE CONSIDERED

/"THE GREATEST

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