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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
MR LIAO SAID THAT AUTHORISED STAFF WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO CHECK ON THE OCCUPANCY OF THE FLATS TO GUARD AGAINST
IRREGULARITIES, AND IF BREACHES WERE FOUND THE OFFENDER WOULD BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $200 000 AND ONE YEAR'S JAIL,
THESE SAFEGUARDS WOULD ALSO APPLY TO FLATS SOLD UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME AND THE MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING SCHEME, SAID MR LIAO.
OTHER IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS PROPOSED ARE:
* TO ALLOW ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THE SPOT AGAINST VEHICLES
ILLEGALLY PARKED IN AUTHORITY CARPARKS OR ON ESTATE ROADS.
* TO EXTEND TO 15 DAYS THE PERIOD IN WHICH APPEALS CAN BE
MADE AGAINST NOTICES TO QUIT PREMISES, AND TO PERMIT AUTHORISED OCCUPANTS TO LODGE SUCH AN APPEAL IF THE TENANT IS UNABLE TO DO SO PERSONALLY.
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LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 ****
A BILL TO MAKE LEGAL AID AVAILABLE IN CIVIL APPEALS TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 AIMS AT PROVIDING LEGAL AID IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO CIVIL PROCEEDINGS IN HONG KONG, THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G. NAZARETH SAID, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
AT PRESENT, PEOPLE WHO WISH TO APPEAL TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL BUT ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE HIGH COSTS, CAN DO SO ONLY ON GROUNDS OF POVERTY. SUCH AN APPELLANT MUST NOT POSSESS MORE THAN 100 POUNDS STERLING.
+THIS AMOUNT IS SO LOW THAT ANYONE WHO QUALIFIES IS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE COSTS OF PRODUCING THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPER IS (AS PAUPERS), HE SAID.
PERMISSION WOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO APPEAL TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL OR TO OPPOSE SUCH AN APPEAL.
THERE ARE PLANS TO EXTEND LEGAL AID FOR APPEALS TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL IN CRIMINAL CASES AS WELL, HE SAID.
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