XN000022-1994-03-30 — Page 47

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994

IT HAS IDENTIFIED

PRIORITY TASK.

COMPUTERISATION OF THE JUDICIARY AS A

"PROPOSALS ON THIS WILL BE PUT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE SOON, AND A PILOT COMPUTERISED RECORDING SCHEME WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE DISTRICT COURT."

ANOTHER PROBLEM BEING TACKLED BY THE WORKING PARTY IS COURT WAITING TIMES, MRS CHAN NOTED.

A RECORDERSHIP SCHEME WOULD BE INTRODUCED UNDER THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, WHEREBY MEMBERS OF THE BAR WOULD BE APPOINTED AS TEMPORARY JUDGES IN THE HIGH COURT.

THE

CHIEF JUSTICE IS SEPARATELY APPOINTING MEMBERS OF THE BAR TO SIT IN THE DISTRICT COURT TO ASSIST WITH THE WORKLOAD THERE.

BESIDES MORE FLEXIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS AND MODERN MANAGEMENT KNOW-HOW, MRS CHAN SAID THE JUDICIARY ALSO NEEDED A SERVICE-ORIENTED MANAGEMENT APPROACH.

"THE SETTING UP OF THREE COURT USERS COMMITTEES AND THE DRAFTING OF THE JUDICIARY'S FIRST PERFORMANCE PLEDGE ARE SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN THIS DIRECTION, SHE EXPLAINED.

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REFERRING TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S COMMITMENT то A "QUIET MANAGEMENT REVOLUTION" IN THE JUDICIARY, MRS CHAN SAID THE NEW JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATOR, WHO WAS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD CONTROLLING OFFICER OF THE JUDICIARY, HAD A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN

AND

THIS

AREA.

0

NO GOVT INTERFERENCE IN LEGAL AID SERVICE

*

THE

ANY

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, REASSURED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT INTERFERE IN WAY WITH THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT ON THE GRANT OF LEGAL AID.

ALTHOUGH THE DEPARTMENT IS A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID IS EMPOWERED UNDER THE LEGAL AID ORDINANCE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS BEFORE HER INDEPENDENTLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATUTORY CRITERIA.

"THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THE DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT HAVE EVER BEEN INFLUENCED BY ITS STATUS.

"ON THE CONTRARY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ON WHICH THE DEPARTMENT, ACTING ON BEHALF OF ITS CLIENTS, HAS SUCCESSFULLY TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT TO COURT, SHE SAID.

IN HER SPEECH IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BUDGET, MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF LEGAL AID CLIENTS PREFERRED USE THE DEPARTMENT'S COUNSEL RATHER THAN OUTSIDE LAWYERS.

ΤΟ

/NEVERTHELESS, SHE