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The Government announced today (April 7) the appointment of the Chairman and members to the newly set up Advisory Committee on Legal Advice for Unrepresented Litigants (Advisory Committee) for a two-year term from April 8, 2016 to April 7, 2018.
The Chairman and non-official members of the Advisory Committee are as follows:
Chairman
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Mr Pang Kin-kee
Members
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Ms Maggie Chan Man-ki
Dr Anne Cheung Shann-yue
Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
Mr Giles Surman
Mr Wan Wai-ming
Miss Catherine Yen Kai-shun
Ms Amarantha Yip Yun-wan
The Advisory Committee also includes representatives from the Judiciary, the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and the Legal Aid Department (LAD) as members.
A spokesman for the HAB said, "The non-statutory Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Government on the policies and programmes related to the Legal Advice Scheme for Unrepresented Litigants on Civil Procedures (Procedural Advice Scheme)."
The HAB launched the Pilot Scheme to Provide Legal Advice for Litigants in Person (Pilot Scheme) in March 2013 to provide legal advice on procedural matters to litigants in person who commenced or are parties to civil legal proceedings at the District Court level or above and have not been granted legal aid. A Steering Committee chaired by Mr Pang Kin-kee and comprising members from different backgrounds (including the two legal professional bodies) as well as representatives from the Judiciary, the HAB and the LAD was set up to oversee and advise on the operation of the Pilot Scheme.
In light of the positive feedback from clients and the Judiciary, the Government decided to include the Pilot Scheme as a regular Government programme starting from 2016-17 and has retitled it as the Procedural Advice Scheme. The scope of the Scheme has been expanded to cover (a) proceedings in the Lands Tribunal; and (b) the commencement of proceedings in the Lands Tribunal, the District Court and higher courts (including applications to join a proceeding) with effect from September 21, 2015.
"Coming from different backgrounds including the legal, social welfare, academic and professional fields, the members will bring to the Advisory Committee a wealth of diversified knowledge and extensive experience. Under the chairmanship of Mr Pang we are confident that the Advisory Committee will provide useful and constructive advice to the Government," the spokesman said.
The HAB also thanked the Chairman and members who served on the Steering Committee of the Pilot Scheme for their invaluable support and contributions during their term of service.
Ends/Thursday, April 7, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:55
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