XN000022-1995-03-29 — Page 4

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Public views sought on provision of legal services

A public consultation paper seeking the views of the public on how to improve the provision of legal services in Hong Kong was published by the Legal Department today (Wednesday).

Releasing details of the consultation paper at a press conference today, the Attorney General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, said the document covered a wide range of issues related to the provision of legal services and set out the Administration's provisional views in respect of them.

He emphasised that the paper looks at legal services from the angle of the consumer, and urged members of the public to read the paper and comment on it.

Mr Mathews explained that the issues discussed in the paper include rights of audience; lawyers' fees; legal representation in conveyancing transactions; restrictions on competition; advertising; quality and remedies; interest on solicitors' clients' accounts; touting and the payment of commissions; lawyers' business organisation; and entry to the legal profession by foreign lawyers.

Mr Mathews referred to the Law Society's paper on "The Future of the Legal Profession" published in January 1993 and the Bar Association's Position Paper published a year later. He said that in recent years, there had been much discussion, both within and outside the legal profession, about the structure of the profession and other issues such as the need to combat "touting", and scale fees for conveyancing.

"The time has come for the Government to take the lead in bringing together all these issues and in seeking the views of the community on them," Mr Mathews said.

Mr Mathews said we all knew the importance of the rule of law, the continuity of our legal system, and the vital role played by the legal profession.