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SHA commends legal professionals for providing pro bono legal services (with photos)
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     ​The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Acting Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Legal Advice for Unrepresented Litigants, Mr Pang Kin-kee; and the Chairman of the Legal Aid Services Council, Dr Eric Li, officiated today (April 17) at the award presentation ceremony for the 2016/17 Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services, which recognises the pro bono legal services provided for the community by legal professionals and law firms.
 
     A total of 232 barristers, solicitors, pupils and trainee solicitors, who performed pro bono legal services for not less than 30 hours from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017, received Individual Awards today. Among them, 143 legal professionals were presented with Special Awards for providing pro bono legal services of not less than 50 hours within the two-year period.
 
     Moreover, 32 law firms were commended with Companies Awards. They have demonstrated significant efforts in providing pro bono legal services in respect of their company's policies, vision or mission. Their legal professionals have also provided the required aggregate hours of pro bono legal services during the recognition period.
 
     Mr Lau expressed his gratitude to the awarded legal professionals and law firms for their contribution to voluntary service over the years and encouraged more legal professionals to provide free legal services to members of the public with unfaltering dedication, thereby spreading the spirit of volunteerism.
 
     Mr Lau noted that the Government has provided subvention for the Duty Lawyer Service to run the Free Legal Advice Scheme at nine district offices of the Home Affairs Department on weekday evenings, while the legal advice is provided by volunteer lawyers through a roster. He said there are currently over 1 000 lawyers participating in the Scheme, handling around 6 400 cases each year.
 
     Mr Lau added that the Legal Advice Scheme for Unrepresented Litigants on Civil Procedures was launched in 2013, and over 10 700 free advice sessions have been conducted under the Scheme to date, benefitting about 3 400 individuals. The advice on legal procedures is mainly provided by resident lawyers as well as over 80 volunteer lawyers. He said that the Government would set up an additional office in Wanchai Tower to assist litigants at the District Court and the Family Court in using the service. The new office is expected to commence operation in the second half of 2018.
 
     In addition, the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong play a major role in the promotion and provision of pro bono legal services. Various non-governmental organisations have also been engaging hundreds of lawyers in providing different forms of free legal advice and consultation services to the public, as well as holding free legal seminars and conferences to enhance the public's legal knowledge.
 
     For more details of the Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services, please visit www.hab.gov.hk/en/policy_responsibilities/District_Community_and_Public_Relations/recognition.htm.
 
Ends/Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:38
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Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The Home Affairs Bureau today (April 17) held the award presentation ceremony of the 2016/17 Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services to commend 232 individual legal professionals and 32 law firms for their contribution to voluntary legal services. Photo shows the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, delivering a speech at the award presentation ceremony.
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah (front row, sixth left); the Acting Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Patrick Li (front row, forth left); the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Legal Advice for Unrepresented Litigants, Mr Pang Kin-kee (front row, fifth left); and the Chairman of the Legal Aid Services Council, Dr Eric Li (front row, sixth right), today (April 17) officiated at the award presentation ceremony of the 2016/17 Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services and took a group photo with other guests.