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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
8. Section 8 of this Ordinance repeals section 15 of the principal Ordinance and substitutes a new section therefor. The section in ques- tion deals with the treatment of prisoners of unsounded mind.
The language of sub-section (1), which deals with persons ordered to be detained until His Majesty's pleasure shall be known, is assimi- lated to that of section 76 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, 1899, Ordinance No. 9 of 1899.
Sub-section (2) deals with prisoners who are discovered during the imprisonment to be of unsound mind. The corresponding passage in section 15 of the principal Ordinance deals only with prisoners who become of unsound mind during their imprisonment.
Sub-section (3) is similar in terms to part of the repealed section and deals with the case where a person of unsound mind becomes sane during the term of the sentence.
Sub-section (4) deals with the case where the person confined is still of unsound mind at the expiration of his sentence. This is not dealt with in the principal Ordinance. If two medical practitioners certify in the prescribed form that the person in question is still of unsound mind at the expiration of his sentence he will be detained in an asylum until he is released by the order of the Governor or discharged by the medical practitioner in charge of the asylum, or otherwise released in due course of law.
9. Section 8 of this Ordinance repeals the Schedule to the prin- cipal Ordinance because, as stated above, the forms will in future be prescribed by Order in Council.
10. Section 10 postpones the commencement of the Ordinance in order to allow time for forms to be prescribed.
AFFORESTATION OPERATIONS.
An
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of Ordinance to enable certain areas to be declared prohibited areas with a view to the protection of afforestation operations.
He said The Botanical and Forestry Department have been greatly hampered in their operations by the destruction of trees which they have planted. That destruction occurs in two ways. In the first place very young trees are often cut down carelessly by persons who are cutting grass on the hill-side. In the second place older trees are very often deliberately cut down in order that the wood may be sold. At present it is perfectly easy for a man who goes out on the hill side deliberately to cut down and steal trees of this kind to cease his cutting operations when he sees the Forest Guard approaching. He hides his saw or axe, and perhaps lights a cigarette and sits down and he is perfectly safe. He waits until the Forest Guard has passed
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