Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing says a corruption prevention group will start a review of legal aid lawyer assignment procedures in the middle of this year.
Mr Tsang told lawmakers today the Legal Aid Department and Independent Commission Against Corruption have formed the group to discuss issues relating to preventing corruption and bribery, to enhance the transparency and fairness in lawyer assignments.
He also said an established departmental monitoring committee evaluates assigned lawyers' performance in handling legal aid cases, and the number of legal aid cases assigned. In the past, an ICAC representative had attended the committee’s meetings as an observer.
Mr Tsang also noted the department's mechanism for making representations regarding legal aid cases. The relevant aided person's legal aid certificate will be discharged if a representation is verified after investigation.
"If improper conduct on the part of lawyers is involved, the Legal Aid Department will also take appropriate actions, including issuing advisory letters to the lawyers concerned, placing their names on the Record of Unsatisfactory Performance & Conduct, removing their names from the Legal Aid Panel, as well as referring the cases to the relevant legal professional bodies for follow-up actions."
