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The Government announced today (December 24) the extension of the appointment of the current chairman and members of the Steering Committee on the Provision of Legal Advice for Litigants in Person for one year from January 1 to December 31, 2015.
The Secretary for Home Affairs has extended for one year the appointment of Mr Pang Kin-kee as the chairman of the Steering Committee; and Professor Anne Cheung Shann-yue, Ms Angelina Lai Fung-yee, Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen and Miss Catherine Yen Kai-shun as members of the Steering Committee.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Mr Giles Surman and Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun as representatives of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong respectively are also extended for one year covering the same period.
Other members of the Steering Committee include representatives from the Home Affairs Bureau, the Legal Aid Department and the Judiciary.
The Steering Committee is responsible for advising the Secretary for Home Affairs on the policy and operation of the Pilot Scheme to Provide Legal Advice for Litigants in Person, which commenced operation in March 2013, and the future arrangements with regard to the provision of legal advice for litigants in person (LIPs).
"Under the leadership of the chairman, Mr Pang Kin-kee, a retired Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, and with the invaluable advice from its members from legal, social welfare, professional and academic backgrounds, the Steering Committee has formulated an effective operational framework for the pilot scheme and will conduct an overall evaluation of the pilot scheme and make recommendations on the way forward," a Government spokesman said.
"Since its commencement of operation in March 2013, the pilot scheme has so far assisted 1,049 LIPs with some 2,930 advice sessions conducted by end-November 2014. It has been well received by clients, and over 90 per cent of them are satisfied with the services provided," the spokesman added.
Ends/Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:15
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