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14.
WE WOULD, THEREFORE, WELCOME YOUR AGREEMENT TO REGULATIONS
TO BE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR AND APPROVED BY YOURSELF REMOVING THE NEED
TO CONSULT THE PSC IN RETIREMENT UNDER REGULATION 59.
15. YOUR PARAGRAPH 8. WE AGREE THAT AN AMENDMENT OF SECTION 8(2) OF THE PENSIONS ORDINANCE WOULD GIVE RISE TO DIFFICULTIES
WITH STAFF ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT THE GENERAL RIGHT OF OFFICERS TO
RETIRE. IF YOU ARE AGREEABLE TO THE AMENDMENTS WHICH WE
HAVE PROPOSED TO REGULATION 59 AND TO THE USE OF REGULATION 55,
THERE IS NO NEED TO PURSUE THE SUGGESTION THAT SECTION 8 OF THE
PENSIONS ORDINANCE BE AMENDED, WE AGREE WITH YOUR VIEW THAT SECTION 8
SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH RETIREMENT AGE AND NOT WITH DISCIPLINE,
16,
THERE MAY BE CASES IN WHICH WE WOULD WANT TO GRANT SOME
PENSION OR GRATUITY TO AN OFFICER DISMISSED UNDER REGULATION
55 AT THE PLEASURE OF THE CROWN. WE SUGGEST THAT THIS COULD BE
ACHIEVED WITHOUT AMENDMENT OF THE PENSIONS ORDINANCE, BY PROVIDING
IN REGULATION 55 THAT AN OFFICER REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC
SERVICE UNDER THAT REGULATION MAY BE TREATED FOR THE PURPOSE
OF ANY PENSIONS LAW FOR THE TIME BEING IN FORCE IN HONG KONG
AS IF THE TERMINATION OF HIS SERVICES WAS DESIRABLE IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST - FOLLOWING THE WORDING OF SECTION 7 OF THE PENSIONS ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 89.
17
YOUR PARAGRAPH 9. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND NO DIFFICULTY IN BACKING US IF CONTRACT OFFICERS ARE DISCHARGED WITHHOUT REASON BEING GIVEN TO THEM AND REPRESENTATIONS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY MADE TO YOU.
18. YOUR PARAGRAPH 11. SECTION 10 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE. I APPRECIATE YOUR FEELING THAT THE EXTENSION OF THE BURDEN IS OPEN TO OBJECTION. NEVERTHELESS, WE FEEL THAT THE SECTION SHOULD BE AMENDED SO AS TO ALLOW EVIDENCE TO BE
ADDUCED OF RESOURCES IN THE HANDS OF AT LEAST THE CLOSE RELATIVES OF THE ACCUSED. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC WILL REGARD THIS
AS OF SOME IMPORTANCE IN SHOWING THAT WE ARE DETERMINED TO TRACK
DOWN PUBLIC OFFICERS WHO ARE LIVING ABOVE THEIR MEANS.
19.
YOUR PARAGRAPH 12, MAXIMUM PENALTY. WE AGREE THAT THE
PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENCES UNDER ALL SECTIONS OF PART 2 OF THE ORDINANCE (EXCEPT SECTION 3) SHOULD BE THE SAME AND SUGGEST THAT THE
BENT
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