XN000022-1993-07-20 — Page 17

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1993

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THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AN ELIGIBLE PNEUMOCONTOTIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FROM JULY 9, 1993 IF HE MADE AN APPLICATION WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THAT DATE.

WHILE THE

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL PROCESS ALL APPLICATIONS PNEUMOCONTOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD WILL ACT AS A PAYMENT AGENT BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT.

ON

CONSULTATION ON LEGAL AID REVIEW IN PROGRESS

* * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF CONSULTING THE LEGAL PROFESSION, OTHER INTERESTED BODIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE FINDINGS OF AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP WHICH HAS REVIEWED THE LAW, POLICY AND PRACTICE GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL AID SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

THE WORKING GROUP HAS PROPOSED SOME MEASURES TO IMPROVE PROVISION OF LEGAL AID SERVICES. ITS FINDINGS ARE SET OUT IN CONSULTATIVE PAPER ON LEGAL AID.

"COPIES OF THE

THE

THE

BOTH

CONSULTATIVE PAPER ARE AVAILABLE, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, AT PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE COUNTERS OF ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID,

**

"MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO OFFER THEIR COMMENTS ON THE FINDINGS OF THE WORKING GROUP.

F

COPIES OF THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE AVAILABLE ΤΟ MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL, DISTRICT BOARDS AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS.

THERE WILL BE A MOTION DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (JULY 21) URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF LEGAL AID.

AS THE VARIOUS OPTIONS OF ENHANCING THE INDEPENDENCE OF LEGAL AID ADMINISTRATION ARE DISCUSSED IN THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER ON LEGAL AID, THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE LEGCO MEMBERS DURING THE FORTHCOMING DEBATE WILL FORM PART OF THE FEEDBACK ON THAT CONSULTATIVE PAPER.

"OUR AIM IS ΤΟ FORMULATE THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FEEDBACK ON THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER, TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

ALL COMMENTS ON THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ΤΟ THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AT FIFTH FLOOR, MAIN WING, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG

KONG, ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 16.

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