WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1979
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URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL
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THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 AIMED AT AMENDING AND SIMPLIFYING SOME OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S FINANCIAL PROCEDURES WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. GRAHAM BARNES SAID ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS SOUGHT TO SIMPLIFY EXISTING ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES BY ENABLING THE URBAN COUNCIL TO PRESENT ITS ANNUAL ACCOUNTS IN THE FORM OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENT INSTEAD OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
DELEGATION OF POWERS TO INVEST COUNCIL FUNDS ON FIXED DEPOSIT WITH A LICENSED BANK WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR BY THE BILL, MR. BARNES SAID.
ONE OF THE CLAUSES IN THE BILL WOULD MAKE EXPLICIT THE COUNCIL'S RIGHT TO REVISE ITS ANNUAL BUDGET AND ANOTHER CLAUSE SOUGHT TO FURTHER ALLOW THE COUNCIL, WITHIN SPECIFIC LIMITS, TO MAKE BY-LAWS DELEGATING THE POWER OF REVISION, INCLUDING THE POWER TO REVISE BY AUTHORISING EXPENDITURE IN EXCESS OF THE BUDGET PROVISION, MR. BARNES ADDED.
ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE BILL WOULD PERMIT THE COUNCIL TO PRESCRIBE FEES FOR THE SIGNING OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS BY PUBLIC OFFICERS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL AND TO REDUCE, VARY, REMIT OR REFUND ANY FEE OR CHARGE PAYABLE TO THE COUNCIL.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL
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THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL, AIMED AT MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR THE COURTS TO OBTAIN A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE SUITABILITY REPORT ON MINOR DRUG OFFENDERS WHEN A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE IS INTENDED, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT PRIOR TO AN OFFENDER BEING SENT TO AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE, WHICH IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS, THE COURT WAS REQUIRED TO FIRST CONSIDER A REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS ON THE SUITABILITY OF SUCH PERSON FOR CURE AND REHABILITATION AND ON THE AVAILABILITY OF A PLACE AT A CENTRE.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO SUCH PROVISION UNDER THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE PRIOR TO A MINOR DRUG OFFENDER BEING SENT TO IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID.
THERE ARE GENERALLY TWO TYPES OF SENTENCES WHICH A COURT CAN IMPOSE ON A MINOR DRUG OFFENDER.
/THE FIRST