Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services

Meeting on Monday, 29 March 2010, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
in Conference Room A of the Legislative Council Building

A G E N D A

I.Confirmation of minutes of meeting
(4:30 pm - 4:31 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)1096/09-10
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2) 1097/09-10 on 16 March 2010)

-Minutes of meeting on 25 January 2010

II.Information papers issued since last meeting
(4:31 pm - 4:32 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)973/09-10(01)
(issued on 22 February 2010)

-Letter dated 11 February 2010 from the Secretary for Home Affairs to the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong on "Review of criminal legal aid fees"

(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)1093/09-10 on 15 March 2010)

-Consultation Paper on Double Jeopardy published by the Law Reform Commission's Double Jeopardy Subcommittee

LC Paper No. CB(2)1093/09-10(01)
(issued on 15 March 2010)

-Executive Summary of the Consultation Paper on Double Jeopardy

III.Items for discussion at the next meeting
(4:32 pm - 4:40 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(01)
(attached)

-List of items tentatively scheduled for discussion at Panel meetings in 2009-2010 session

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(02)
(attached)

-List of outstanding items for discussion

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(03)
(attached)

-List of follow-up actions

IV.Independent statutory legal aid authority
(4:40 pm - 5:05 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)782/09-10(05)
(issued on 19 January 2010)

-Administration's paper on "Independent statutory legal aid authority" issued for the meeting on 25 January 2010

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(04)
(attached)

-Letter dated 19 March 2010 from the Chairman of Legal Aid Services Council to the Panel Chairman in response to the requests made by the Panel at the meeting on 25 January 2010

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(05)
(attached)

-Updated background brief on "Independent statutory legal aid authority" prepared by the Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat

#V.Five-yearly review of the criteria for assessing the financial eligibility of legal aid applicants
(5:05 pm - 5:35 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)1148/09-10(01)
(issued on 23 March 2010)

-Administration's paper on "Five-yearly review of the criteria for assessing the financial eligibility of legal aid applicants"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(06)
(attached)

-Updated background brief on "Five-yearly review of the criteria for assessing the financial eligibility of legal aid applicants" prepared by the LegCo Secretariat

VI.Free legal advice service
(5:35 pm - 6:00 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)1148/09-10(02)
(issued on 23 March 2010)

-Administration's paper on "Free legal advice service"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(07)
(attached)

-Background brief on "Free legal advice service" prepared by the LegCo Secretariat

*VII.Matrimonial Proceedings and Property (Amendment) Bill
(6:00 pm - 6:25 pm)

LC Paper No. CB(2)1148/09-10(03)
(issued on 23 March 2010)

-Administration's paper on "Amendments to the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap. 192)"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(08)
(attached)

-Extract from the minutes of special meeting of the Panel on 22 October 2009

LC Paper No. CB(2)1156/09-10(09)
(attached)

-Submission from the Law Society of Hong Kong

VIII.Any other business
(6:25 pm - 6:30 pm)

# Members of the Panel on Manpower are invited to join the discussion of agenda item V.

* All other Hon LegCo Members are invited to join the discussion of item VII.

Council Business Division 2
Legislative Council Secretariat
24 March 2010