VĘDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1974
ENQUIRY INTO ESCAPE OF WOMAN DRUG SUSPECT
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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS INSTITUTED AN ENQUIRY INTO THE ESCAPE FROM THE SHEUNG SHUI POLICE STATION ON JULY 13 OF A WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A $1 MILLION HEROIN SEIZURE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEVIS DAVIES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HOWEVER, MR. DAVIES SAID ALTHOUGH HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT REGARDING THIS INCIDENT, THE FACT THAT CERTA IN COURT PROCEEDINGS WERE PENDING, AND CERTAIN DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS MAY RESULT FROM THE INCIDENT, PROCLUDED HIM FROM GOING INTO DETAILS AT THIS STAGE.
IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, HE SAID THE WOMAN HAD BEEN ARRESTED BY PREVENTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS IN CONNECTION WITH A HEROIN SEIZURE AND SHE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HANDED OVER TO THE POLICE.
SHEUNG SHUI POLICE STATION IS A RURAL STATION AND AT THE TIME THERE WERE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORM BRANCH ON DUTY UNDER THE COMMAND OF A SERGEANT.
+THIS ENQUIRY IS BEING CONDUCTED BY A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER FROM POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND THE OBJECT IS TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS AND CAUSE OF THE ESCAPE.
+ IF NECESSARY, RELEVANT PROCEEDINGS WILL BE INSTITUTED AGAINST ANY PERSON OR PERSONS FOR NEGLIGENCE OR ANY OTHER IRREGULAR OR UNLAWFUL INVOLVEMENT.
+50 FAR THE HUSBAND OF THE WOMAN CONCERNED HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH AIDING AND ABETTING HER ESCAPE FROM THE POLICE STATION,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.
INTEREST RATES ON SAVINGS ACCOUNTS RAISED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON CLEARED THE WAY FOR INTEREST RATES ON SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNTS TO BE INCREASED BY ONE PER CENT TO FIVE PER CENT.
THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION INCREASING FROM FOUR PER CENT TO FIVE PER CENT THE MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST PAID BY BANKS WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO INTEREST TAX.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT AT PRESENT THERE IS A CASE FOR A FURTHER RISE IN THE TAX EXEMPT RATE SO THAT SMALL SAVERS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE GENERALLY HIGHER LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES.
+THE EXCHANGE BANKS' ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THE INTEREST RATE ON SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FROM FOUR PER CENT TO FIVE PER CENT AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS MOTION IS TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE BY A SIMILAR INCREASE IN THE TAX EXEMPT RATE WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROU,+ HE ADDED.
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