The Bill of "Legal Aid Services Council Ordinance" was passed by the Legislative Council on 1 May 1996 and was assented by The Deputy to the Governor on 9 May 1996. After the enactment of the Ordinance, a body corporate known as "Legal Aid Services Council" was formally set up on 1 September 1996 to supervise the provision of legal aid services in Hong Kong provided by the Legal Aid Department (LAD) and to advise the Government on legal aid policy.