TNAG-0112-FCO40-148-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 181

APPENDIX “H”

28th December, 1967.

S. V. Gittins, Esq., Q.C.,

The Chairman,

Hong Kong Bar Association,

218, Marina House,

Hong Kong.

Dear Chairman,

re: FEES IN ASSIGNED CRIMINAL CASES

I thank you for your letter of the 21st December but I think it may be convenient if I take in a slightly different order the various matters mentioned in it.

REVISED SCALE.

I think there may be some misunderstanding here. When I referred to the scale put forward in 1959, I had in mind the following passage from the Report of the Committee on Legal Aid which was signed on the 13th April, 1959:-

"Mr. Winter obtained the views of the Junior Bar, and reported that all members of the Junior Bar were willing to participate. The wish was expressed that in exceptional circumstances a barrister be permitted to refuse an assignment provided another barrister could be found to conduct the case. The Committee con- siders this request to be reasonable.

As to remuneration, the present fee in an assigned capital case is $300 on the brief, with $200 refreshers, on the first assigned case in any given year, and a fee of $750 with $300 refreshers for any subsequent case in the same year.

The Junior Bar suggested that here-

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