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2
HE POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES WERE CONTROLLED UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE IS BASICALLY ADMINISTERED BY THE
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES ADVISED BY THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT IT WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVELY MORE CONVENIENT IF THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WOULD CONTROL AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES UNDER A SEPARATE ORDINANCE.
COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL
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THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1977, WHICH EMPOWERS THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED NAME OF AN INTENDED COMPANY, OR A NEW NAME FOR AN EXISTING COMPANY, TO BE RESERVED FOR THREE MONTHS UPON PAYMENT OF A FEE, WAS GAZETTED TODAY.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO GIVE THE REGISTRAR POWER TO ORDER A COMPANY TO CHANGE ITS NAME IF, BY MISTAKE, IT HAS BEEN REGISTERED BY A NAME WHICH CONTRAVENES ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMPANY NAMES.
SECTION 20 OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, PROHIBITS THE REGISTRATION OF A COMPANY BY A NAME WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO THAT BY WHICH AN EXISTING COMPANY IS ALREADY REGISTERED OR SO NEARLY RESEMBLES THAT NAME AS TO BE CALCULATED TO DECEIVE, OR WHICH CONTAINS THE WORDS +BUILDING SOCIETY+.
THIS SECTION ALSO PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF NAMES CONTAINING CERTAIN WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS SUCH AS +CHAMBER OF COMMERCE +ROYAL+, +IMPERIAL+, +CHARTERED+, +BRITISH+, TRUST+, +MASS TRANSIT+.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT FOR SOME YEARS THE REGISTRAR HAS OPERATED AN INFORMAL RESERVATION SYSTEM.
+ IF AN ENQUIRY AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE COMPANY NAME IS MADE, AND THE NAME IS AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRAR NOTIFIES THE APPLICANT AND UNOFFICIALLY RESERVES THE NAME FOR TWO MONTHS,+ HE SAID.
+HOWEVER, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY STATUTORY BASIS, THIS RESERVATION COULD BE CHALLENGED, AND FOR THIS REASON THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS NOT ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY.+
THE AMENDING BILL PROVIDES FOR A FEE OF $20 TO BE CHARGED FOR EACH ENQUIRY REGARDING RESERVATION AND THE RESERVATION PERIOD MAY, UPON PAYMENT OF A $10 FEE, BE EXTENDED FOR A FURTHER THREE MONTHS.
IF PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ORDINANCE WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON A DAY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR BY NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE. ADEQUATE PRIOR NOTICE OF THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PROFESSIONS.