is satisfied that the refined proposal described in
in this memorandum offers a practicable solution for improved control in this area and accordingly recommends its acceptance as a matter of policy.
Implementation
40
Subject to Members' approval, drafting of the necessary amendments to the
Publications Objectionable Ordinance, to reflect the proposed changes will comence as a matter of top priority with a veiw to introducing them in the Legislative Council within the current session. The public, including District Boards, will have a further opportunity to comment when the draft bill is gazetted.
41
The Fight Crime Committee has expressed the view that video tapes should be included from the outset as part of the proposed Court's classification function. Under the present interpretation of section 2 of the Ordinance, video tapes fall within the meaning of an objectionable article, but as video tapes pose far less of a problem than printed materials, it is suggested, that the proposed Court should not deal with the classification of video tapes, until such time as the
the proposed scheme has been proved.
Financial implications
42
a
It is envisaged that the proposed publications assessor scheme may lead to an increase in the workload of the Judiciary as publishers will be allowed to obtain a ruling on voluntary basis. The Judiciary is expected to make the necessary redeployment to ensure that bilingual magistrates are available for the interim and full hearings within the
The staffing situation will need statutory period.
to be carefully monitored, and some increase of establishment in the magistracy may be necessary in the light of experience.
43
It is proposed that Publications Assessors serving on the Court be paid an honorarium on a per sitting basis (half day or full day) and that the rate of honorarium should relate to the salary point of a lay magistrate (point 38 on the Master Pay Scale). Thus, the assessors would be renumerated at $335 for half-day sitting
a
and $670 for a full-day sitting. As it is
is not possible to forecast the number of hearings arising from the proposal, the total amount honoraria payable to these assessors cannot be estimated with any degree of accuracy.
of