The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Legal Aid Department today (December 5) to meet with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law first met with the Director of Legal Aid, Mr Thomas Kwong, and the directorate staff to receive an update on the department's work in processing legal aid applications and providing litigation and legal support services, as well as the challenges confronting them.

     Mr Law then proceeded to the Legal and Management Support Section of the Policy and Administration Division to learn about the Section's work, which includes the provision of information technology and management support to the department as well as legal support services after litigation.

     At the Application and Processing Division, Mr Law was briefed on the processing of civil legal aid applications. He visited front-line colleagues of the Information and Application Services Unit to learn more about their daily work in handling enquiries on matters related to the procedures for applying for legal aid.
    
     Mr Law also visited the Crime Section of the Litigation Division where he was briefed on the processing of criminal legal aid applications, the handling of criminal litigation at all court levels, and the operation of the Remote Official Visit System. The System allows officers of the Section to interview persons in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre through a video conferencing system in the interview room.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concerned them. He praised colleagues for their efforts and encouraged them to keep up their professionalism and continue to provide quality legal aid services to the public.

Ends/Thursday, December 5, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:45

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