12
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983
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POSITION ON CIVIL DEBT
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THE WAY AHEAD WAS TO RETAIN IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE DEBTOR HAD CONCEALED HIS ASSETS OR HAD PUT HIS ASSETS BEYOND THE REACH OF HIS CREDITORS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
POINTING OUT THAT HE WAS SPEAKING PERSONALLY, MR GRIFFITHS SAID THESE TWO MATTERS SHOULD BE SHOWN TO BE THE CASE BEFORE AND NOT AFTER A DEBTOR WAS IMPRISONED,
+ THE PRESENT POSITION IS THAT IT IS FOR ANY DEBTOR TO MAKE APPLICATION TO BE RELEASED AND HE WILL BE RELEASED UNLESS THE CREDITOR CAN SHOW ONE OR THE OTHER OF THOSE TWO GROUNDS, HE SAID.
MR GRIFFITHS WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER C. WONG WHO ASKED FOR THE LATEST POSITION REGARDING THE REVIEW OF THE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES RELATING TO CIVIL DEBTS,
HE SAID HE RECEIVED A REPORT BY A WORKING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AT THE END OF MAY.
+THE INTENTION IS THAT AFTER THE REPORT HAS BEEN LOOKED INTO AND AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ARTICLE 11 HAS BEEN ASSESSED IN ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROBLEM, THE MATTER SHOULD BE DRAWN TO THE ATTENTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR THEM TO TAKE A VIEW UPON IT, HE SAID.
ARTICLE 11 PROVIDES THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE IMPRISONED MERELY ON THE GROUND OF INABILITY TO FULFIL A CONTRACTURAL OBLIGATION, HE ADDED.
MORE CIVIL SERVICE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
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A WOMAN'S MARITAL STATUS WOULD NO LONGER BE A CONSIDERATION IN SELECTION FOR ENTRY TO TRAINING COURSES FOR THE NURSING AND TEACHING PROFESSIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARIA TAM, MR ROWLANDS SAID EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WERE EXPANDING ALL THE TIME.
+WE NOW EMPLOY SOME 46 000 WOMEN ALTOGETHER, OF WHOM 21 400 ARE MARRIED. THERE ARE FOR EXAMPLE 3 000 MARRIED WOMEN IN THE NURSING SERVICE, 1 500 IN THE TEACHING GRADES AND 1 600 MARRIED WOMEN IN THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE,+ HE SAID.
/AS FOR