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Representatives from the Council of
the Law Society, as well as the Society’s Intellectual Property, Civil
Practice and International Relations Committees, met with the Swedish Parliament
Standing Committee on Civil Law on 29 August 2000, at 2.30pm at 39
South
Bridge Road.
The
meeting was originally convened as a forum for exchange of information regarding
intellectual property rights in Singapore. However, things took an unexpected
turn and, instead, there ensued a lively discussion on issues ranging from
Singapore’s policy of capping the number of Singapore lawyers, the death
penalty, the Internal Security Act, to Singapore’s unique form of
parliamentary democracy!
The
Parliamentarians were fascinated by what they perceived as Singaporean’s
general acceptance of the need to impose the death penalty for certain offences.
The death penalty is banned in Sweden.
There
was a healthy exchange of views, and the Parliamentarians reluctantly took their
leave, expressing their regret that they could not continue the discussion as
they were already late for their next scheduled meeting.
The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
celebrated its 15th anniversary on 2 September 2000 with a thank you buffet
lunch for its volunteer lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists and foreign
interpreters.
About
150 volunteers attended the function at the Merchant Court Hotel, which opened
on a hilarious note. In his maiden speech as Chairman, Mr Peter Cuthbert Low,
Chairman of CLAS since January 2000, told the volunteers that he did not intend
to make a long speech, but like what King Henry VIII said to each of his wives,
‘My dear, I shan’t keep you long’, drawing smiles and peals of laughter
from everyone. He thanked the CLAS volunteers for their time, services,
contributions and support.
Mr
Palakrishnan, President, presented Certificates of Appreciation to CLAS
volunteer lawyers who had completed at least four assignments. A special token
of appreciation was given to Mr Giam Chin Toon SC, in recognition of his
leadership and services rendered to CLAS as its second Chairman from July 1992
to December 1999.
Mr
Giam, who was instrumental in raising funds for CLAS through the first Charity
Golf Tournament 1998, was also invited to say a few words to the volunteers
after receiving the token from the President.
The
President added a personal touch to the occasion when he went to each table to
thank the volunteers and to share a few moments with them.
The
highlight of the afternoon was the cutting of a birthday cake with 15 lighted
candles by the President, together with Mr Peter Low, founding CLAS Committee
Chairman, Mr Harry Elias SC and Mr Giam Chin Toon SC. The volunteers sportingly
stood up to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to CLAS and gave a warm round of applause
as our VIPs blew out the candles and joined hands to symbolically cut the
birthday cake which came with the compliments of the hotel.
Everyone
had an enjoyable time mingling prior to the commencement of lunch and during
lunch itself.
The
CLAS Committee would like to record its appreciation to all our volunteers who
attended our 15th anniversary celebrations and for their unstinting and
continuing support for CLAS, thereby making it possible for CLAS to continue
providing free criminal legal aid to the poor and needy in our community since
its humble beginning on 2 September 1985.
On
a historical note, CLAS has the distinction and honour of having past Presidents
of the Law Society as chairmen of its Committee, beginning with Mr Harry Elias
SC, followed by Mr Giam Chin Toon SC and, currently, Mr Peter Low. CLAS
acknowledges with deep gratitude their leadership, guidance, advice,
contribution and support provided to CLAS all these years.
Chu
Sooi Yoon
Director, Practice Standards
The Law Society of Singapore