XN000022-1993-01-11 — Page 9

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1993

ABOUT

"I KNOW THAT THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND LAW SOCIETY ARE CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM AND THAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO DEAL WITH COMMISSION-TAKING IN RELATION TO CRIMINAL MATTERS. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL SOON BE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO DEAL WITH COMMISSION-TAKING IN RESPECT OF CONVEYANCING.

MR

MATHEWS SAID HE HAD THE THOUGHTS, NOT BECAUSE HE WISHED LAUNCH AN ATTACK UPON LAWYERS' RICE BOWLS.

ΤΟ

H

*NONE OF THESE THOUGHTS, IF FOLLOWED THROUGH, WOULD RESULT IN LAWYERS BEING OUT OF WORK OR IMPECUNIOUS AND 1 AM, OF COURSE, ACUTELY CONSCIOUS OF, AND GLAD TO REAFFIRM PUBLICLY, THE VERY LARGE NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY BY LAWYERS IN HONG KONG AT NO COST AT ALL.

"HONG KONG LAWYERS HAVE A FINE RECORD OF PRO BONO WORK TO THE GREAT BENEFIT OF ALL IN HONG KONG AND LONG MAY THAT TRADITION CONTINUE.

"BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST HARKEN TO THE WARNING BELLS AND NOT ALLOW OURSELVES AS A PROFESSION TO BECOME COMPLACENT ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM OR To ASSUME THAT HIGH LEGAL FEES WILL ALWAYS BE TOLERATED BY THE COMMUNITY.

"WE

MUST REMEMBER AND REAFFIRM THE IDEALISM WHICH BROUGHT US INTO THE LAW IN THE FIRST PLACE A WISH TO SERVE. WE MUST NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.

—

"WE MUST RE-EXAMINE THE STATE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND ITS COST TO THE COMMUNITY AND ASK OURSELVES WHETHER THE SYSTEM IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND CAN BE REACHED AND USED BY ALL MEMBERS

RICH AND POOR ALIKE, HE SAID.

"I

0

OMBUDSMAN'S ROLE TO BE STRENGTHENED

* * * * *

THE ROLE OF THE

COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS (COMAC) IS TO BE STRENGTHENED UNDER A PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY).

THE PROPOSED CHANGES, WHICH AIM TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARD AGAINST GOVERNMENT MALADMINISTRATION, ARE:

A

MORE EFFECTIVE

THE EXISTING SYSTEM FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ΤΟ REFER CASES TO THE COMAC SHOULD BE CHANGED TO ENABLE THE PUBLIC ΤΟ TAKE THEIR COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY ΤΟ COMMISSIONER;

THE

THE COMMISSIONER'S JURISDICTION SHOULD BE EXTENDED INCLUDE MAJOR STATUTORY BODIES ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNMENT; AND

/* THE COMMISSIONER

TO

THE