SCS visits Legal Aid Department (with photos)

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     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung, visited the Legal Aid Department (LAD) today (February 23) to learn more about the work of the department and to take the opportunity to meet its staff.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Cheung first met with the Director of Legal Aid, Mr Thomas Kwong, and the directorate staff. He was pleased to learn that the LAD is committed to ensuring that any person who has reasonable grounds for taking or defending a legal action is not prevented from doing so because of lack of means, and that the department is working in partnership with the legal profession.

     Later, Mr Cheung visited the Legal and Management Support Section of the Policy and Administration Division. The section is mainly responsible for providing information technology and management support to the department, assessing bills of costs submitted by assigned lawyers, attending taxation hearings and conducting enforcement proceedings for the recovery of judgment debts and costs in legally aided cases.

     Mr Cheung also visited the Application and Processing Division to better understand how its staff process civil legal aid applications on the basis of prescribed means and merits tests. He also learnt from front-line staff members of the Information and Application Services Unit about their work on provision of enquiry and appointment services to members of the public.

     When touring the Crime Section of the Litigation Division, Mr Cheung was briefed by staff on the processing of criminal legal aid applications and handling of criminal litigation at all court levels. He noted that the section on average handles some 3 600 criminal legal aid applications each year. The section launched the Remote Official Visit System in May last year, which allows staff to interview inmates at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre who apply for legal aid through a video conferencing system in the office.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Cheung met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on issues of concern. He praised colleagues for their dedication and effort, and encouraged them to continue to deliver quality legal aid services.

Ends/Thursday, February 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:10

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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung (right), visited the Legal Aid Department today (February 23). He is pictured meeting with the Director of Legal Aid, Mr Thomas Kwong, to learn more about the work of the department.

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung (right), today (February 23) toured the Application and Processing Division of the Legal Aid Department to better understand how its staff process civil legal aid applications.

While touring the Application and Processing Division of the Legal Aid Department today (February 23), the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung (right), is briefed by front-line staff members of the Information and Application Services Unit about their work on provision of enquiry and appointment services to the public.

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung (left), visited the Litigation Division of the Legal Aid Department today (February 23) and was briefed by staff of the Crime Section on the processing of criminal legal aid applications and handling of criminal litigation at all court levels.

At a tea gathering with Legal Aid Department staff representatives of various grades today (February 23), the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung (right), encouraged them to continue delivering quality legal aid services.