WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982
15
+HOWEVER, MY CONCERN ARISES FROM OUR ALSO ENACTING THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE QUANTITY IS INSUFFICIENT TO BE MEASURED.
+WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF CHEMIST THAT THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF DANGEROUS DRUG WHICH IS MEASURABLE IS FIVE MICROGRAMS OR 0.000005 OF A GRAM.
+WHEN, THEREFORE, WE TALK OF A QUANTITY WHICH IS INSUFFICIENT TO BE MEASURED, WE ARE ENTERING THE REALM OF THE MICROSCOPE.
+1 AM SURE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL WISH TO AVOID THE ABSURDITY OF CHARGING SOMEONE WITH POSSESSING A MICROSCOPIC AMOUNT OF A DANGEROUS DRUG, WHEN COMMON SENSE TELLS US, IN THE WORDS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, THAT THIS CANNOT IN FACT AMOUNT TO ANYTHING, + MR SWAINE SAID.
SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL
*****
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH GIVES THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF CONTROLLING TRIAD INFILTRATION OF SOME MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS.
THE CHANGES WERE RECOMMENDED BY AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIAL S FORMED TO SCRUTINISE THE BILL.
GROUP CONVENOR, THE HON PETER C. WONG, SAID DURING THE BILL'S SECOND READING DEBATE THAT HIS GROUP WAS CONCERNED AT THE WIDE DISCRETIONARY POWERS GRANTED TO THE REGISTRAR AND THE REVISION OF THE APPEALS PROCEDURE.
FOLLOWING SOME LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IT WAS AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD, IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS' TIME, CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF SEPARATE LEGISLATION FOR BETTER CONTROL OF MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS AND THE ACTIVITIES OF NON- MEMBERS OF SUCH ASSOCIATIONS, E.G. EMPLOYEES.
THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS WERE ALSO MADE:
* THE SECTION WHICH ENABLES THE REGISTRAR TO DIRECT A
SOCIETY TO AMEND ITS RULES OR CONSTITUTION WAS CHANGED SO AS TO BE CONFINED TO SOCIETIES REGISTERED BEFORE JULY 21, 1961.
*
TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY, CLAUSE 6(A) WAS AMENDED TO SUBSTITUTE +CRIMINAL+ FOR +ARRESTABLE+,
* THE LEVEL OF FINES RELATING TO OFFENCES OF INTIMIDATION AND TO PROCUREMENT OF AID FOR UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES WAS
INCREASED FROM THE PROPOSED $5 000 TO $20 000.
*
THE NEW SECTION 12 WAS AMENDED TO ALLOW ANY PERSON AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION OF THE REGISTRAR OR A DECISION OF THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION TO APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
THE ADMINISTRATION