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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1977
BUT, WHEN IT CAME TO THE RELIEF OF HARDSHIP AND THE DISTURBANCE OF PEOPLE AND THE IR LIVELIHOOD, GOVERNMENT FELT THAT AN EX-GRATIA SYSTEM WAS USUALLY MORE FLEXIBLE AND MORE EFFECTIVE. ANNUAL REVIEW OF COMPENSATION RATES HAD BEEN INSTITUTED.
HE SAID AN
CONCERNING DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND CLOSURE ORDERS, MR. JONES SAID THAT MOST EMERGENCY CLOSURES AROSE FROM FIRES AND OTHER CALAMITIES WHICH REQUIRED RAPID EVACUATION OF THE BUILDINGS CONCERNED. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE THEREFORE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY CLOSURES.
HE SAID THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO THOSE PERMANENTLY DISPLACED BY BUILDING CLOSURES WAS PROPERLY MADE BY THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT USUALLY ASSISTED BOTH THE OWNER AND THE TENANT BY ADVANCING PART OF THE COMPENSATION AT THE CUTSET.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO PUBLICISE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL *****
THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG TODAY CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO USE ALL ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE KNOWN THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL'S EXISTENCE AND FACILITIES, AND ENCOURAGE ITS USE.
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL
MR. CHEUNG (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY SAID THE TRIBUNAL WAS MEANT TO BE A FORUM TO FACILITATE THE ENFORCEMENT OF CLAIMS BY PERSONS OF MODEST MEANS IN A LAWFUL, PEACEFUL, EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMICAL WAY.
HE SAID IT WOULD SEEM, AFTER A YEAR'S FUNCTIONING, THE TRIBUNAL WAS BEGINNING TO SERVE ITS PURPOSE AND HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PUBLICISE IT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AT THE END OF WHICH A DECISION WILL BE TAKEN WHETHER TO MAKE IT A PERMANENT INSTITUTION.
HE NOTED THAT CLAIMANTS OF MODEST MEANS DID USE THE TRIBUNAL SUBSTANTIALLY AS MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF THE 6,700 CASES HANDLED DURING THE 12 MONTHS SINCE ITS INCEPTION WERE CLAIMS FOR GOODS SOLD AND DELIVERED, DISHONOURED CHEQUES, MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE CHARGES IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, HIRE-PURCHASE CHARGES, DAMAGES FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND THE LIKE.
WELCOMING THE BILL, WHICH PROVIDES THE TRIBUNAL WITH A POWER OF REVIEW, MR. CHEUNG SAID IN A TRIBUNAL OF THIS KIND, IT WAS VERY CONVENIENT AND IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE THAT THERE SHOULD BE SUCH A POWER.
BUT HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TC CONSIDER WHETHER IT COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL TO PUT IN AN AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY THE AMBIGUITY ON THE RUNNING OF TIME FOR APPEALS+ AFTER AN ORDER OR AL AWARD WAS HANDED DOWN BY THE TRIBUNAL.
/IN REPLY, .****