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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1977
MR. CHEN SAID THAT IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IN THIS INDUSTRIAL AREA, THE EXISTING YIP SHING STREET WOULD BE RECONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY OF 7.3 METRES WIDE TOGETHER WITH A 2.75 METRES FOOTPATH ON ONE SIDE.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORKS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT.
THE WORK WILL START IN EARLY 1978 AND WILL TAKE 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977
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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE SO AS TO EMPOWER THE HIGH COURT AND THE DISTRICT COURT TO AWARD COSTS TO PEOPLE ACQUITTED IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.
THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ALSO SEEKS TO CONFER THE SAME POWER ON THE COURT OF APPEAL IN AWARDING COSTS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED AGAINST CONVICTIONS IN THE DISTRICT COURT OR THE HIGH COURT +EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE A RETRIAL IS ORDERED AND CASES OF SUBSTITUTED VERDICTS OR CONCERNING DISABILITY+.
UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, APPLICATIONS FOR COSTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE DIRECT SCRUTINY OF THE TRIAL OR APPEAL JUDGE, AND A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRINCIPLE WOULD BE THAT AWARDS WOULD BE LIMITED TO SUMS THAT WERE REASONABLY SUFFICIENT TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY EXPENSES PROPERLY INCURRED.
AT PRESENT, COSTS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $2,000 MAY BE AWARDED TO ACQUITTED DEFENDANTS IN SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE WHICH ALSO ENABLES THE HIGH COURT TO AWARD COSTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED AGAINST CONVICTIONS BY MAGISTRATES.
BUT, ACQUITTED DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL CASES IN THE DISTRICT COURT THE HIGH COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEAL MUST AT THE MOMENT BEAR THEIR OWN COSTS EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE THE DEFENDANTS ARE ACQUITTED ON CHARGES UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE AND WHERE AN APPLICATION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR A REVIEW OF SENTENCE IS REFUSED.
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