XCC(80) 43
Consequential amendment to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance
26
Clause 7 makes a consequential amendment by repealing section 78 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance. The provisions of section 78 are now contained partly in section 47C (infanticide) and section 47D (alternative offences).
Undesirable Medical Advertisements (Amendment) Bill 1980 (Annex C)
27
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit advertisements in newspapers and in the streets relating to the availability of illegal abortion. Members will note that there was a reference to such advertisements in paragraph 2.12 of the Report of the 1977 Working Group.
28
The bill also makes it clear that this prohibition will not apply to advertisements published with the approval of the Director of Medical and Health Services. It is hoped that with greater publicity on the availability of legal abortion, women genuinely in need will be persuaded to seek safe abortion in approved hospitals and clinics.
Incidental amendments to the Termination
of Pregnancy Regulations
29
Certain statutory forms prescribed under the Termination of Pregnancy Regulations made under the Offences Against the Person Ordinance will need amendment and the necessary amending regulations will be submitted for the Council's consideration in due course.
Staffing and financial implications
30
It is possible that some additional staff may be required in the Medical and Health Department and Social Welfare Department to provide counselling for women seeking abortion. However, it is not possible at this stage to quantify the requirement but the numbers involved is likely to be small.
Public relations
31
Abortion is a very sensitive issue as can be seen from the spate of correspondence in the newspapers from time to time. The proposals are likely to attract a great deal of criticism from those individuals and
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