Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Speech by SJ at Law Society of Hong Kong’s Pro Bono and Community Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2025 (English only)
I am pleased to say that, in Hong Kong, we have a very strong tradition of providing legal aid and pro bono legal services. The response of the legal sector to the tragic fire in Tai Po provides the best evidence. To begin with, I must pay tribute to the Law Society’s swift action in establishing the temporary panel under the Emergency Free Legal Helpline for Tai Po Tragic Fire to provide preliminary free legal advice to the public. On the other hand, the Legal Aid Department announced two days ago that it has established a dedicated task force and will implement a series of support measures to assist residents and other affected persons in applying for legal aid in accordance with the statutory requirements to handle litigation and related matters. Solicitors on the legal aid panel will be heavily involved in due course. In addition, the Judiciary has also announced that all potential legal proceedings, including probate proceedings, relating to the incident will be handled with priority and expeditiously through a series of facilitative measures. At this difficult time, the whole legal sector, including lawyers and judges, are standing together with the victims and all those affected. I would strongly encourage all those in need to make use of the legal services that I have just mentioned.Issued at HKT 18:08
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