WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1982
27
SEVEN BILLS PASSED
***
SEVEN BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THEY ARE THE ESTATE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1982, THE FERRY SERVICES BILL 1982, THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT OF DUTY ON LIGHT OILS) BILL 1982 AND THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) BILL 1982 WAS ADJOURNED TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
WARNING ABOUT UNREGISTERED COMMODITY DEALERS
***
THE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC OF TRADING THROUGH UNREGISTERED COMMODITY DEALERS WAS EXPRESSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON J.C. GRIFFITHS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE COMMODITIES TRADING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WHICH PROVIDES FOR HEAVIER PENALTIES FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES, MR GRIFFITHS ALSO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE MASS MEDIA WOULD PUBLICISE THIS DANGER MORE WIDELY,
+ I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS BILL IS ENACTED AND PASSED INTO LAW IT WILL MAKE MUCH EASIER THE TASK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF PREVENTING THE ACTIVITIES OF UNREGISTERED OR FRAUDULENT DEALERS.
+1 AM SURE THAT THE COURTS, IF THIS BILL IS PASSED, WILL WISH TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, IN FUTURE CASES, THE VIEW OF THIS COUNCIL (WHICH IS MANIFESTED BY THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES PROVIDED) THAT A SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEM EXISTS
IN HONG KONG IN THIS FIELD, + MR GRIFFITHS SAID.
HE SAID ALSO THAT A REVIEW OF THE OPERATION OF VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE WAS UNDERWAY AND THAT, DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO PROPOSE ALTERATIONS TO VAR IOUS SUBSTANTIVE SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
MR GRIFFITHS EARLIER POINTED OUT THAT THE INTENTION BEHIND THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE, WHICH CAME INTO FORCE EARLY IN 1977, WAS TO RESTRICT DEALING TO REGISTERED DEALERS ONLY, AND TO CONTROL THOSE DEALERS BY SUITABLE AUDITING AND OTHER RULES.
HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS HAD SINCE ARISEN, AND THE GROWTH IN COMMODITIES TRADING LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MANY UNREGISTERED DEALERS, ESTIMATED BY THE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU AT BETWEEN 100 AND 150 OF THEM.
*EXPERIENCE HAS