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Wednesday, June 20, 1973
DISTRICT JUDGES GET INCREASED SENTENCING POWERS
Three pieces of legislation which give added weight to the government's
determination to crack down on violent crime were passed by the Legislative
Council today.
The three bills are the District Court (Amendment) Bill 1973, the
Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 1973 and the Public Order (Amendment) Bill
1973.
The first bill gives increased sentencing powers to District Judges,
the second provides for a new type of sentence to isolate habitual criminals
from society, and the third strengthens the existing legislation dealing with
possession of offensive weapons in public places.
In supporting the bills, the senior Unofficial Member, the Hon.
P.C. Woo, said that members of a committee set up by the Bar Association had
made certain representations to the unofficial members against the provisions
of the original four bills.
He said the committee explained why it was in doubt as to the wisdom
of interfering with the existing limitations of jurisdiction in the district
courts and the magistracies.
"We appreciate the reasons for these views and have given them careful
consideration, The Unofficials conclude that the change of jurisdiction proposed
in the District Court represents the most effective and immediately practicable
way of speeding up the disposition of the backlog of cases now facing the
Supreme Court," Mr. Woo said.
He said