1.1 During the year under review, while overall legal representation reported a moderate drop, coinciding with a drop in Hong Kong's overall crime rate, the demand for legal information via internet has grown steadily.

1.2 The year also saw the expansion of the Duty Lawyer Service to cover a legal assistance scheme to torture claimants under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).

1.3 During the year, the Duty Lawyer Scheme represented 36,991 defendants charged with criminal offences in the Magistrates’ and Juvenile Courts, representing a decrease of 3.43% over the previous year. The number of children represented in Care or Protection Proceedings in the Juvenile Courts was 568 representing a decrease of 28.82%. The Free Legal Advice Scheme had utilized 882 volunteer lawyers at 9 evening centers advising 6,635 persons representing a decrease of 0.26% over the previous year. The Tel Law Scheme recorded a total of 27,792 calls representing a decrease of 3.23% over the previous year. The Service's website however recorded 289,444 hits, representing an increase of 5.65% over the previous year.

1.4 With effect from 24th December 2009, the Duty Lawyer Service has been further expanded to provide legal assistance for claimants during the screening of claims made under Article 3 of CAT. The new Convention Against Torture Scheme will operate on pilot basis for a period of 12 months.

1.5 Review of remunerations of senior executives at the top three tiers had been conducted. It was concluded that the average total remuneration of each of the tiers was on par with that of the comparable rank in the civil service.