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Free Legal Advice Scheme
on Mental Health Rights
In Hong Kong, people facing mental health challenges often experience various forms of unfair treatment. They may be asked to disclose details of their mental health condition, encounter barriers in education or employment, or have their service experiences disrespected.
We understand that these are not only personal difficulties but also matters of rights, protection and systemic fairness.
At StoryTaler, we believe that:
Everyone has the right to understand their mental health rights
And to receive informed guidance and
practical support when needed
Pilot Phase (October 2025 to March 2026)
With this belief, StoryTaler has partnered with pro bono legal advisers to launch this free legal advice scheme in Chinese. During the pilot phase from October 2025 to March 2026, we hope to offer a safe and trustworthy starting point for those who feel uncertain, worried, or wish to understand more about their rights.
What is the Service Offers
This service provides initial written legal advice on the following three specific areas:
Disability discrimination (related to mental health)
Personal privacy and information disclosure
Professional misconduct (e.g., when service users’ rights are not respected)
Our pro bono legal advisers will review the information you provide and respond in clear, compassionate language. Their aim is to help you understand your legal rights and position, the possible consequences, and the directions you may wish to consider.
**Please note that we are unable to handle the following types of cases:
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Legal matters outside the above three areas (such as criminal, family or immigration matters)
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Requests to draft, amend or represent any formal legal documents (such as statements or complaint letters)
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Cases that are already under legal proceedings
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Matters outside the jurisdiction of Hong Kong
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Requests for referral or recommendation of a specific lawyer or legal representative
Before You Use the Service
To ensure the safety and rights of all users, and to make fair use of available resources, please take note of the following arrangements:
(1) Submitting an Enquiry
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Each enquiry should focus on one specific area only
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Please do not submit more than one enquiry at a time (we kindly ask for your patience while waiting for a reply)
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Please do not resubmit the same case unless there are clear new developments
(2) Reply Method and Timeframe
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All enquiries will be reviewed, and a written reply will be provided by our pro bono legal advisers within ten working days
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To maintain service quality and response time, we can currently support up to five enquiries per week during this pilot phase. Enquiries will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. If the weekly quota is full, your enquiry will be reviewed the following week. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
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In general, the pro bono legal adviser’s reply will be a one off preliminary opinion. If you wish to provide additional information after submitting your enquiry, please complete a new consultation form. The adviser will review the updated information and decide whether further follow up is needed.
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The pro bono legal adviser will assess whether it is suitable to provide specific advice and reserves the right to decide whether to reply. If your enquiry is too complex, unclear, or beyond the scope of this service, you may not receive detailed feedback. However, StoryTaler will do our best to offer useful directions or suggest other possible avenues for assistance.
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If your situation requires formal legal assistance, the pro bono legal advisers may recommend seeking official representation
(3) Confidentiality, Safety and Important Limitations
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StoryTaler will never ask you to provide sensitive documents such as medical records, identity documents, or legal files. If you receive any email requesting such documents, please do not reply and contact us immediately.
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Unless you have obtained informed consent, please avoid providing the full names or personal details of anyone involved
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All information will be treated as strictly confidential and protected under the legal professional privilege of our pro bono legal advisers.
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The pro bono legal adviser is not your legal representative, and their reply does not constitute a lawyer and client relationship.
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The reply provided through this service is an informal, preliminary opinion and is not suitable for use in legal proceedings or formal citation.
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StoryTaler cannot be held responsible for any legal consequences or losses arising from the use of information provided through this service.
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In cases of emergency or ongoing legal proceedings, please seek formal legal representation immediately.
A Gentle Reminder
We understand that dealing with rights related issues connected to mental health can be stressful, overwhelming, and sometimes deeply discouraging.
To raise a question and to seek understanding of your options is already a courageous act.
You do not have to face this alone.
Please remember:
You can take things at your own pace. There is no need to decide immediately
If the process feels too heavy, you can talk to someone you trust or contact a support organisation to think through it together.
We are here to offer the information and direction you may need, to the best of our ability.
If you have any questions about this Free Legal Advice on Mental Health Rights, please email us at help@storytalerhk.org.
We sincerely thank you for your trust and participation during this pilot phase.
If you wish, you are warmly invited to share your feedback and suggestions by emailing help@storytalerhk.org, so that together we can continue building a more compassionate and rights aware support network.
