XN000022-1995-10-18 — Page 3

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LegCo briefed on Legal Department Plans

The Attorney General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, today (Wednesday) briefed Legislative Council members on the new initiatives outlined in his policy commitments published in association with the Governor's Policy Address.

In respect of the provision of legal services, he proposed strengthening the Legal Department's Legal Policy Division and the Law Reform Commission Secretariat, creation of an Attorney General's office, and continued support for implementation of the legislation relating to vulnerable witnesses, and support for handling extra duties, such as asset recovery, arising under the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance, as well as increased workload in respect of commercial crime and corruption.

Mr Mathews explained that the work of the Legal Policy Division had increased tremendously in the past few years.

"The division has a wide variety of responsibilities, ranging from advice on human rights, constitutional and electoral law, and China Law, to the handling of petitions to the Governor and the preparation and promotion of legislation for which I have responsibility.

"Work in respect of each of these areas has grown very significantly. In the past, it was possible for officers in the division to undertake or supervise the work I have just referred to, and also to provide direct support to the Attorney General

in dealing with important government legal issues and policy making. This has now become too great a task," he said.

He proposed, firstly, to create an Attorney General's office which will have its own legal officers, as well as administrative and secretarial support.

Secondly, he proposed to increase the staffing of the Legal Policy Division so that assistance in respect of constitutional and legal policy issues could be handled more efficiently.

A further initiative was the proposed creation of a central Mutual Legal Assistance Unit within the division which would handle all requests by other jurisdictions for assistance on criminal or civil matters. On the Law Reform Commission, Mr Mathews said it continued to play an important role in keeping the laws of Hong Kong up-to-date and in tune with changes in community attitudes.