WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983
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BILL TO GRANT GENERAL PERMIT FOR CLOSED AREAS
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THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 PROPOSES TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO GRANT A GENERAL PERMIT TO SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OF PERSONS TO ENTER OR LEAVE A CLOSED AREA, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE PERMIT WILL BE VALID AT SUCH TIMES AND SUBJECT TO SUCH CONDITIONS AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY SPECIFY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH THE SECOND READING.
UNDER $.38 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PERSON TO ENTER OR LEAVE A CLOSED AREA WITHOUT A PERMIT, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO PROVIDE FOR EXCEPTIONS, MR JEAFFRESON EXPLAINED.
HE NOTED THAT DURING THE FESTIVALS OF CHING MING AND CHUNG YEUNG, IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT THE GRAVES OF THEIR ANCESTORS IN THE SANDY RIDGE CEMETARIES AT LO WU INSIDE THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA.
→THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBERS INVOLVED, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS NOT IN PRACTICE BEEN ABLE TO ISSUE PERMITS FOR THEM, MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT.
THE SAME APPLIES TO CERTAIN OTHER CATEGORIES OF PERSONS WHO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA.
THEY INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES AND THE MILITARY ON DUTY, RESIDENTS OF THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA UNDER THE AGE OF 18, PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO AND FROM CHINA AND EMPLOYEES OF TRANSPORT COMPANIES OPERATING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, HE SAID.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES STATUTORILY TO EXEMPT MILITARY PERSONNEL AND POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A PERMIT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL JUNE 8.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES LEGISLATION REVIEWED
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AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW WAS RECENTLY UNDERTAKEN LEGISLATION GOVERNING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRES.N, A D IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AS A RESULT, A NUMBER OF MAINLY ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE NOW PROPOSED TO THE PRISONS ORDINANCE, HE SAI MONG THE SECOND READING OF THE PRISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
MR JEAFFRESON EXPLAINED THAT SOME OF THE CHANGES WULF BRING DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT INTO LINE WITH THOSE APPLICABLE TO OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL JUNE 8.
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