XN000022-1996-01-05 — Page 3

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AG adopts recommendations to bolster briefing out system

The Legal Department will set up Selection Boards, with participation by a representative of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), to decide on the briefing out of cases to outside counsel.

There will be improved record-keeping of recommendations and decisions, and there will be finer distinction between the different categories of counsel on the briefing-out lists, as well as a more structured procedure for removing any names from the lists.

These and other recommendations are made in a report by a Working Party appointed by the Attorney General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, to review the department's briefing out system.

The Attorney General has accepted the recommendations which are being implemented. Some are already in place and others will be so within the coming month.

Commenting on the work of the Working Party today (Friday), Mr Mathews said it represented the first comprehensive and detailed review of the briefing out system

He reiterated the department's continuing commitment to briefing out. "Our commitment has been amply demonstrated by the setting up of this high level and widely representative Working Party under the chairmanship of the Director of Public Prosecutions," he said.

Members of the Working Party were drawn from the Finance Branch, Treasury, the Efficiency Unit, the Corruption Prevention Department of ICAC, and the Civil, Prosecution and Administration Divisions of the Legal Department.

Members also included two representatives each from the Bar Association and the Law Society representing the criminal and civil law side of the two branches of the profession.

"The Working Party adopted accountability as an important measure against which they have set their recommendations," Mr Mathews said.

It has made a number of recommendations to improve the accountability and transparency of the briefing out system. This will ensure that the system meets the expectations of the Hong Kong public and is in line with the Government's striving for more accountable and transparent government, he added.