XN000022-1995-05-04 — Page 4

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Director of Legal Aid accepts COMAC's findings

The Director of Legal Aid accepts the findings of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (COMAC) in his investigation about failure to monitor closely a legally aided case.

The case in question concerns a land dispute in the New Territories, which involves very complicated legal and factual issues and the application of Chinese Customary and Ching Law,

The department also accepts the Commissioner's recommendations and will take all necessary steps within its power to bring about an early conclusion to this

case.

A committee is already established within the department to monitor on a regular basis the assignment of legal aid cases to outside solicitors and counsel.

In the light of COMAC's comments, the Committee will take a closer look at the existing procedures and practices with a view of further improving the system.

In 1994, the department received a total of 25,257 applications for legal aid and 10,369 were granted legal aid certificates. About 60 per cent of the cases handled were matrimonial cases, which normally took one-and-a-half to two years to complete. Cases which involved employees compensation (10 per cent) took less than a year.

End/Thursday, May 4, 1995

Christopher Lee appointed Immigration Deputy Director

The Government announced today (Thursday) that Mr Christopher Lee Ka keung will assume the post of Deputy Director of Immigration on July 1, 1995.

Mr Lee, aged 50, is at present the Assistant Director of Immigration responsible for Control and Investigation. He joined the Immigration Department in 1965 as an Officer. He was promoted to his present rank in 1987 and has acted in the post of Deputy Director on several occasions.

Mr Lee will replace Mr John Yeung Hin-chung who will proceed on leave on July 1 prior to departing the service.

End/Thursday, May 4, 1995