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WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1978
POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO WALL COLLAPSE AT WESTERN
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~ GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE POLICE ARE CARRYING OUT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE COLLAPSE OF A WALL AT A DEMOLITION SITE AT CENTRE STREET,
WESTERN, YESTERDAY, WHICH KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED 1 OTHERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE AIM OF THE INVESTIGATION WOULD BE TO SEE WHETHER THERE WERE SUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS TO BE TAKEN.
HE SAID THERE WOULD BE A NORMAL ENQUIRY BY THE POLICE WITH A VIEW TO PRESENTING PAPERS TO THE CORONER FOR HIM TO DECIDE WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE AN INQUEST.
HE SAID THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE HAD ALSO INITIATED ITS CWN TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INCIDENT. THE RESULTS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE AND TO THE CORONER'S OFFICER.
HE SAID THE SITE WAS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE B.0.0. WHICH HAD UNDERTAKEN EMERGENCY WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THE SITE WOULD BE SAFE. THESE WORKS WERE EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED TODAY.
MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) BILL
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A EILL MAINLY DESIGNED TO ENABLE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ASSESSOR SCHEME TO APPOINT CANTONESE-SPEAKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SIT WITH MAGISTRATES IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 ALSO SEEKS TO CHANGE TWO ASPECTS OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE DEALING WITH COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON SAID THE PROPOSED SCHEME COULD HELP MAGISTRATES DETERMINE CASES BY THE ADVICE OF CANTONESE- SPEAKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC KHO. IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING AND UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF MOST ACCUSED PERSONS, HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS AND ESPECIALLY CURRENT COMMUNITY VIEWS.
+THE SCHEME IS EXPERIMENTAL AND THEREFORE THE AMENDMENTS ARE PERMISSIVE IN CHARACTER AND CAPABLE CF FLEXIBLE APPLICATION BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE,+ YP. THOPTON SAID.
میشد.
/COMMENTING ON