ENG-1987 — Page 57

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THE LEGAL SYSTEM

cases. In the Magistrates' Courts these are: membership of a triad society, loitering, unlawful possession, being equipped for stealing, resisting arrest, possession of dangerous drugs for unlawful trafficking, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of apparatus fit for using dangerous drugs and possession of offensive weapons. Additionally, free legal representation is available for extradition proceedings, and in discretionary circumstances, although such cases are necessarily limited in number in view of the limit in resources. All but the least serious offences attract free legal representation in Juvenile Courts. There is no means test. During the year, a total of 16 288 adults and juveniles received advice, and representation at trial.

The Free Legal Advice Scheme operates in the evening at centres in Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai, Eastern, Mong Kok, Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong and Yau Ma Tei district offices through 354 volunteer lawyers. Some 3 218 people are advised annually, having been referred through 138 agencies. Once the problem is identified, appointments are given within seven to 10 days, and, because details of the problems are written down by the staff of the agencies during their interviews with clients, the lawyers are able to give authoritative advice based on the necessary research done before the meeting. People are assisted on matrimonial and employment matters, landlord and tenant queries, and a host of other subjects.

In 1984, the Law Society introduced 'Tel-Law' whereby taped legal information on a number of legal topics was made available during working hours and evenings on 10 telephone lines. The tapes are of 24 minutes duration and encourage people who identify legal problems of their own from listening to the tapes, to use the Free Legal Advice Scheme. The tapes, which are frequently updated, concentrate on four principal areas of interest matrimonial, landlord and tenant, criminal and financial law but a large number of new tapes has been added, detailing for example, consumer law and employ- ment. There has been an increase in the number of people with queries on these topics. Fifty-nine tapes were available, in Cantonese and English, and 40 354 calls were answered during 1987.

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