WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1974
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$1 MILLION FINE FOR DRUG OFFENDERS
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HEAVIER FINES OF UP TO $1 MILLION, LONGER PRISON TERMS AND CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ARE THE STIFFER PENALTIES PROPOSED IN TWO NEW BILLS, WHICH WERE TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, AS DETERRENTS AGAINST DRUG OFFENDERS.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIONS, THE DANGEROUS DRUGS CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974 AND THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT (AMENDMENTO BILL 1974, WERE- INTRODUCED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE WHITE PAPER ON +THE PROBLEM OF DANGEROUS DRUGS IN HONG KONG HAD RECOMMENDED AN INCREASE IN SOME OF THE PENALTIES UNDER THE PRESENT DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF CERTAIN OFFENCES, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATING TO ILLICIT DRUG TRADING FOR PROFIT.
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THE DANGEROUS DRUGS BILL PROVIDES THAT THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF FINES WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED FOR OFFENCES OF TRAFFICKING, MANUFACTURE, POSSESSION FOR TRAFFICKING AND DIVAN KEEPING SHOULD BE INCREASED TEN TIMES.
AMONG OTHER PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE BILL, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR TRAFFICKING IN A DANGEROUS DRUG WILL BE RAISED ON INDICTMENT FROM LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND $100,000 TO LIFE IMPRISON- MENT AND $1 MILLION AND ON SUMMARY CONVICTION FROM THREE YEARS AND $50,000 TO THREE YEARS AND $500,000.
UNDER THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT BILL, MR. DAVIES SAID, MALE PERSONS WHO ARE CONVICTED OF THE MAJOR DRUG OFFENCES COMMITTED FOR PROFIT TRAFFICKING, MANUFACTURING, STORAGE, PERMITTING PREMISES TO BE USED, AND KEEPING A DIVAN WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.
HE ADDED THAT THE BILL WOULD ALSO SEEK TO APPLY THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE TO MALE PERSONS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS WHO ARE CONVICTED OF BEING IN POSSESSION OF, OR SMOKING, INHALING, INGESTING OR INJECTING A DANGEROUS DRUG, OR BEING IN POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING SO.
DEBATE ON THE TWO BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
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MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY. *******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, HAS SENT A MESSAGE TO THE CONSUL-GENERAL OF ARGENTINA EXPRESSING SYMPATHY ON THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT JUAN PERON.
THE MESSAGE READS: +IT IS WITH DEEP REGRET THAT I LEARNT OF THE SUDDEN DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA, AND I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEND YOU AND YOUR FELLOW COUNTRY-MEN MY SINCERE SYMPATHY ON THIS SAD OCCASION.+
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