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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1978
+TO THOSE WHO MAY FEEL THAT THESE MEASURES WILL CAUSE GREAT HARDSHIP FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO OPERATE UNLICENSED FOOD BUSINESS, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THEIR REMEDY IS TO GET THEIR BUSINESSES LICENSED, MR. HO SAID.
+1 FEAR WE CANNOT AFFORD TO RELAX OUR GUARD IN THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN THIS CROWDED CITY, HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
JURY (AMENDMENT) BILL
*****
THE JURY (AMENDMENT) BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON SAID THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SPECIFIES THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A COURT MAY ORDER A TRIAL TO CONTINUE IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH, ILLNESS, DEFAULT OF ATTENDANCE OR DISCHARGE BY THE COURT OF ANY JUROR.
+THE SECTION THEREFORE BY INFERENCE GIVES THE COURT POWER
TO DISCHARGE A JUROR, + MR. THORNTON SAID.
+THE CHIEF JUSTICE CONSIDERS, IN THE LIGHT OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL IN ENGLAND, THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR THE HIGH COURT TO HAVE EXPRESS POWER TO DISCHARGE A JUROR AND ALSO THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN SUCH A POWER SHOULD BE EXERCISED, SHOULD BE SPECIFIED.+
MR. THORNTON ADDED THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE EXISTING REQUIREMENT FOR A FORMAL ORDER TO BE MADE ENABLING THE TRIAL TO PROCEED IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OR DISCHARGE OF A JUROR IS UNNECESSARY.
THE AMENDING LEGISLATION REPEALS AND REPLACES THE RELEVANT SECTION OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SO AS TO GIVE EFFECT
TO THESE SUGGESTIONS, MR. THORNTON SAID.
IN ADDITION. MR. THORNTON SAID THE BILLS ALSO AIMS AT INCREASING THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR TWO OFFENCES.
UNDER THE AMENDING LEGISLATION, THE FINE FOR AN OFFENCE BY A JUROR WHO, WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE, FAILS TO ATTEND OR WITHDRAWS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE JUDGE WILL BE RAISED FROM $500 TO $3,000, MR. THORNTON SAID.
SECONDLY, THE FINE TO BE IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS WHO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST EMPLOYEES CALLED TO SERVE AS JURORS WILL BE INCREASED FROM $3,000 TO 35,000, HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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