Political situation
Written by: Zhou Haoyi
2021-03-01 19:02
The last update date: 2021-03-01 19:06
The Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services of the Legislative Council met today (1st) to discuss updating the case management computer system and knowledge support system of the Legal Aid Department.
The DAB Legislative Council Member Zhou Hao-ding said that there are currently 612 fund support defendants against the amendments, and those who questioned those already supported by the 612 fund do not need to be granted full legal aid.
The DAB Ge Peifan asked whether the updated computer system of the Legal Aid Department would have a record of applying for the 612 fund.
The Director of Legal Aid, Kwong Po-cheong, stated that the Legal Aid Department has the responsibility to grant legal aid to qualified applicants and will pay attention to whether the assets declared by the applicants match the actual assets.
He also pointed out that the relevant fund mainly subsidizes junior barristers to "study" with lawyers of the Legal Aid Department, rather than directly providing cash assistance to the defendant.
The Legal Aid Department said it would carefully check
Zhou Haoding believes that the 612 Foundation now allocates funds to hire a second lawyer to represent the defendants who have been granted legal aid. He questioned that since the defendant has received support from the 612 Foundation, he does not need to receive full legal aid. He believes that the new computer system should have a way to identify those who have been granted legal aid. The people supported by the fund ensure that public funds are not misused.
Ge Peifan asked the authorities whether people who have been supported by the 612 fund will still be granted legal aid.
She also said that most of the applicants lost in judicial review cases related to large-scale projects, but the progress of the project was delayed during the processing of the cases. She asked whether the department would have relevant records in the future to reduce the granting of legal aid for cases with low odds of winning.
Kwong Po-cheong said that if the applicant is eligible for legal aid, the Legal Aid Department is obliged to grant legal aid under the existing laws.
He said that he will closely monitor the situation and take action if the actual assets of the applicant are found to be inconsistent with the declared ones, emphasizing that the department will check carefully.
He also pointed out that according to the current situation, the relevant fund does not directly provide cash assistance to the defendant. Instead, the fund subsidizes junior barristers to provide "training fees" so that they can "learn from" lawyers appointed by the Legal Aid Department.
He said that this "teacher" model has been in operation for many years, and it has helped nurture Hong Kong barristers.
Zhou Haoding believes that the 612 Foundation now allocates funds to hire a second lawyer to represent the defendants who have been granted legal aid. He questioned that since the defendant has received support from the 612 Foundation, he does not need to receive full legal aid. He believes that the new computer system should have a way to identify those who have been granted legal aid. The people supported by the fund ensure that public funds are not misused.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
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