XN000022-1993-08-27 — Page 12

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STATEMENT ON DEFENCE COUNSEL

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1993

IN

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RESPONSE то MR JUSTICE DUFFY'S COMMENTS MADE TODAY (FRIDAY) A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "IN THE CASE IN QUESTION, THE DEFENDANT WAS PRIVATELY REPRESENTED. AFTER THE JUDGE MR JUSTICE DUFFY DISCHARGED THE JURY, HE ADVISED THE DEFENDANT TO APPLY FOR LEGAL

AID.

IN RESPONSE TO THE JUDGE'S COMMENTS REGARDING THE COMPETENCE OF COUNSEL IN HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FEES THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S CHAMBERS OFFER TO FIAT COUNSEL ARE DICTATED BY THE BUDGET GRANTED TO THE DEPARTMENT BY THE FINANCE BRANCH.

THE FEES PAID TO DEFENCE COUNSEL BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT ARE GOVERNED BY THE LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES RULES.

THE DEPARTMENT ALWAYS ACTS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ITS CLIENTS AND BRIEFS THE MOST SUITABLE COUNSEL AVAILABLE то ENSURE PROPER REPRESENTATION.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, BOTH DEPARTMENTS MONITOR PERFORMANCE OF COUNSEL CAREFULLY AND ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE.

BOTTLE BEER ADVICE

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT To DRINK THE 33- CENTILITRE-SIZE HEINEKEN BOTTLE BEER BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF GLASS SPLINTERS IN THE BOTTLES.

THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS CONFIRMED WITH THE SOLE AGENT OF HEINEKEN IN HONG KONG REGARDING THE RECALL OF ALL SUCH BOTTLE BEER THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT URGED RETAILERS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE RECALL EXERCISE AND RETURN THE AFFECTED BOTTLE BEER TO THE SOLE AGENT FOR DISPOSAL.

FOOD INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVE VISITED VARIOUS RETAIL OUTLETS IN THE TERRITORY THIS MORNING.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.

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