Legal services timetable set

Members of the public and concern groups have been given two weeks to air their views on the controversial draft bill on legal services.

The Legal Services Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 1996, gazetted in June, includes a proposal to abolish existing scale fees for conveyancing, which has sparked off heated debate among the two branches of the legal fraternity over the past few months.

Other recommendations of the bill include retaining the status of Queen's Counsel by renaming them as Senior Counsel.

All written submissions should reach the Legislative Council Secretariat at 8 Jackson Road, Central, by November 2.

The Bills Committee studying the draft legislation has also arranged to meet concern groups on November 7.