XN000022-1995-06-28 — Page 57

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Measures to combat touting

Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau Wai-hing and a written reply by the Attorney General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The Legal Practitioners' Ordinance (LPO) was amended in July last year empowering the Law Society to appoint inspectors to investigate touting and commission-taking among solicitors and paralegals. Will the Administration inform this Council:

(a)

what measures are in place to assess whether the amendments to the LPO have been effective in combating touting and commission-taking by lawyers and paralegals;

(b)

how many lawyers and paralegals have been formally disciplined for such malpractice, and with what results; and

(c)

whether it will consider criminalizing touting and commission-taking in order to stamp out the malpractice?

Reply:

Mr President,

The answers to the three parts of this question are as follows.

(a)

The Legal Practitioners Ordinance was amended in July 1994, but the Inspectors' Powers Rules did not come into force until November of that year. The following measures are in place to assess whether the amendments are effective.

(1)

Law Society inspectors are required to submit written reports to the Law Society following each individual inspection, which arc under constant review by the Law Society. In this regard, a Standing Committee on Compliance has been specifically tasked to monitor the inspectorate system.