5
UN
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1980
THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO EMPOWER THE COURTS TO PROHIBIT THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONVICTED PERSONS AS DIRECTORS OR IN OTHER MANAGERIAL POSITIONS FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO SEVEN YEARS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO AMEND THIS PROVISION, RESTRICTING IT TO RE-EMPLOYMENT ONLY IN THE SAME PUBLIC BODY OR CORPORATION, OR ITS SUBSIDIARY ORGANISATIONS, IN WHICH THE PERSON WAS EMPLOYED PRIOR TO HIS CONVICTION.
IT IS PROPOSED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, BY ADDITIONAL WORDING IN THE BILL, THAT THE PROHIBITION WAS ALSO INTENDED TO APPLY TO PERSONS PRACTISING A PROFESSION OR WHO WERE OTHERWISE SELF-EMPLOYED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE PROHIBITION WOULD APPLY ONLY TO SENIOR POSITIONS AND WOULD BE IMPOSED ONLY WHERE THE COURTS CONSIDERED IT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DO SO.
IT IS
THE BILL EXTENDED FROM SIX MONTHS TO THREE YEARS THE TIME LIMIT OF PROSECUTION ON A NUMBER OF CORRUPTION OFFENCES. NOW PROPOSED TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM PERIOD TO TWO YEARS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A FEW OTHER CHANGES ARE PROPOSED, MAINLY TO 'TIDY UP' CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL BILL.
THE MAIN PROPOSAL IS THE ADDITION OF A NEW PROVISION TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NO OFFENCE IS COMMITTED IF A PUBLIC SERVANT OTHER THAN A GOVERNMENT OFFICER SOLICITS OR ACCEPTS AN ADVANTAGE DIRECTLY RELATED TO HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE PERMISSION OF HIS EMPLOYER.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF DISTRICT MANAGEMENT SCHEME
******
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SET UP LAST NOVEMBER AS A PILOT SCHEME HAS SUCCEEDED IN PROVIDING A NEW ARENA AND NEW HOPE OF FINDING SOLUTIONS WHICH FIT LOCAL CONDITIONS, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR A.G. EASON, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF NEW OFFICE BEARERS OF AREA COMMITTEES IN KWUN TONG, MR EASON SAID THOUGH THE COMMITTEE HAD NOT TURNED KWUN TONG INTO PARADISE IN A SHORT TIME, IT HAD SUCCEEDED IN GETTING OFFICIALS TOGETHER TO MAKE A REAL COLLECTIVE ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY KWUN TONG'S PROBLEMS, BOTH BIG AND SMALL,
+ IT HAS ALSO PROVIDED A FOCAL POINT IN THE DISTRICT TO CHECK THE EXTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN MEETING RESIDENTS' NEEDS. AND A FOCAL POINT TOO TO WHICH RESIDENTS' SUGGESTIONS CAN BE DIRECTED,+ HE SAID.
MR EASON ALSO NOTED THAT SINCE THE COMMITTEE'S INCEPTION IT HAS HAD SOME SMALL TANGIBLE SUCCESSES IN CHANGING THINGS FOR THE BETTER IN KWUN TONG AND IN PLANNING MORE IMPROVEMENTS.
/+BUT CLEARLY