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FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1980
HAWKER LICENCES ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATAGORIES FIXED PITCH, ITINERANT AND TEMPORARY.
THE MAJORITY OF FIXED PITCH LICENCES ARE FOR FIXED PITCHES NOT EXCEEDING 1.1 SQUARE METRE EACH AND ANNUAL FEES FOR THESE WILL BE INCREASED FROM $130 TO $390.
THE MAJORITY OF ITINERANT HAWKERS WILL HAVE THEIR LICENCE FEES INCREASED FROM $40 TO $75 A YEAR, WHILE THE FEE FOR A TEMPORARY LICENCE REMAINS THE SAME AT $25.
+THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE NEW TERRITORIES GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WERE CONSULTED ABOUT THE NEW SCALE OF FEES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
GREATER PROTECTION FOR RAPE VICTIMS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO FURTHER PROTECT THE ANONYMITY OF COMPLAINANTS IN RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT CASES UNDER THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT SINCE 1978 THE IDENTITY OF COMPLAINANTS HAS BEEN UNDER PROTECTION ONCE THEIR CASE IS FORMALLY BEFORE A COURT.
THE PRESENT BILL WILL ALLOW ANONYMITY TO VICTIMS FROM THE TIME THE COMPLAINT IS MADE TO THE POLICE.
*THE PROPOSAL, BY PROTECTING THE IDENTITY OF THOSE WHO REPORT SEXUAL OFFENCES, MAY FURTHER ENCOURAGE THE REPORTING OF SUCH OFFENCES TO THE POLICE,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FROM TIME TO TIME HOWEVER, IT MAY HAPPEN THAT PUBLIC INTEREST REQUIRES PUBLICITY TO BE GIVEN TO A COMPLAINT, SUCH AS WHEN THE IDENTITY OF THE VICTIM HAS TO BE REVEALED TO TRACE THE OFFENDER.
IN SUCH A CASE, PUBLICITY WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED ON PERMISSION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OR ALTERNATIVELY BY A POLICE OFFICER OF THE RANK OF SENIOR SUPER INTENDENT OR ABOVE WITH THE COMPLAINANT'S CONSENT. NOTICE OF THE PERMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE GAZETTE.
THE BILL ALSO EXTENDS TO ALL COURTS THE POWER CURRENTLY VESTED ONLY IN THE HIGH COURT TO DIRECT DURING A TRIAL THAT RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLICITY BE LIFTED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
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