WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1982
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PROTECTION OF MUSEUM EXHIBITS
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THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1982 WHICH PROVIDES THE AUTHORITY WITH THE WIDER POWERS NECESSARY FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF MUSEUMS AND FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF THE EXHIBITS WAS READ A SECOND TIME
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON D.C. BRAY SAID THE BILL EMPOWERS THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE A PERSON CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE OF A MUSEUM OR TO AN EXHIBIT TO REPAY THE COSTS OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, AND TO PAY A SURCHARGE EQUAL TO 20 PER CENT OF THOSE COSTS.
HE SAID THE BILL WAS NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE THREE EXISTING MUSEUMS IN HONG KONG - THE MUSEUM OF ART, THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND THE SPACE MUSEUM.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT WITH ADEQUATE AUTHORITY FOR SEVERAL NEW MUSEUMS AS THEY ARE COMPLETED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
JURISDICTION IN MATRIMONIAL MATTERS
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THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (FEES) (AMENDMENT) RULES 1982, MADE BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO REFLECT THE CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) ORDINANCE, WERE TODAY APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH SAID THE CHANGE IN THE PRINCIPAL RULES, PASSED BY THE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER, HAD PROVIDED FOR THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION IN MATRIMONIAL MATTERS FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO THE DISTRICT COURTS.
AS A RESULT, SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS FOR WHICH FEES WERE PRESCRIBED WOULD BE DISCHARGED BY THE DISTRICT COURT AND NOT THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT, HE SAID.
MR NAZARETH SAID THE AMENDMENTS CONSISTED ESSENTIALLY OF DELETING REFERENCE TO THE REGISTRAR AND THE ACTUAL FEES WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED.
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