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(b) The admission policies of foreign countries are different. Generally speaking, countries will wish to satisfy themselves that the individual is returnable to Hong Kong; and returnability of a BDTC passport holder is evident from his Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card. Nonetheless, it may be more difficult for holders of BDTC passports to obtain visas now for entry to those countries or territories which require a visa from them. Any BDTC who has not yet applied for a BN(O) passport, unless bom in the first six months of this year, will have missed the legal deadline for lodging such an application. The BN(O) passport issuing function was transferred from the Hong Kong Immigration Department to the British Trade Commission (BTC) on 1 April this year. We understand that the British Trade Commission will only accept late applications if there are genuine special circumstances which justify it. Any late applications will be considered carefully.

Foreign lawyers registration

Following is a question by the Hon Ho Chun-yan and an oral reply by the Attorney General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that the China Legal Service (HK) Limited (the Company), which was established with the approval of the Chinese Ministry of Justice, provides legal services in the territory without applying to the Law Society of Hong Kong (the Society) for registration as a foreign law firm in accordance with the requirements of the law of the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

whether the owner of the Company and its lawyers have contravened the Legal Practitioners Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation; and

whether, following the receipt of the complaint from the Society against the Company, the Government has requested the Company to go through the necessary procedures for registration as a foreign law firm as soon as possible; if so, what the outcome is; if not, why not; and whether the Government has considered instituting prosecutions, if not, why not?