THE boat people seeking to leave Hong Kong did not have a lawyer to represent them yesterday, despite being told at the last hearing that Legal Aid would be provided.
Mr Justice Keith had asked on October 7 that a lawyer be appointed to argue on their behalf that the Crown should not be granted an order detaining them.
Yesterday, the court heard that legal aid was granted to the 19 boat people on October 13. An independent human rights barrister, Philip Dykes, was instructed to advise on the merits of the boat people's opposition to the detention order.
He advised the Director of Legal Aid that there was no reasonable prospect of success, as a result of which the legal aid certificates were discharged.
The judge told the boat people yesterday that this was not unusual. He then asked the prosecutor to act with candour - that is to reveal anything that could be said in the respondents' favour - while he himself considered points that could be made on their behalf.
Each of the boat people then addressed the judge.
