Hong Kong Ordinances

LEGAL AID ORDINANCE - SECT 12

Application for aid by more than one party

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

(1) If, in relation to any proceedings to which a person who has made an
application for legal aid or an aided person is a party, any other party makes
application for legal aid, the provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to
both such parties: Provided that the Director shall not himself act for either
such party but shall assign counsel or solicitor-

   (a)  in proceedings before the Privy Council, selected by the Director; or

   (b)  in other proceedings, selected by the aided person, if he so desires,
        or otherwise by the Director from the panel, to act for each
        aided person unless the Director is already acting in any proceedings
        to which an aided person is a party when such other party makes
        application for legal aid, in which case the Director may, if in his
        opinion no conflict of interest or prejudice to any aided person
        arises, continue so to act. (Amended 14 of 1982 s.6; 54 of 1984 s.9)

(2) Where the Director continues to act for an aided person in accordance with
the proviso to subsection (1) he shall assign from the panel a solicitor and,
additionally or alternatively, counsel to act for the other aided person.
(Added 54 of 1984 s.9)