THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1983
AMENDMENT TO CONSPIRACY LAW SOUGHT
****
A PERSON CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY ACQUITTED IF HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS ARE ACQUITTED, UNDER A CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO 2) BILL 1983 TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT, IF HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS HAD BEEN ACQUITTED, A PERSON CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY MIGHT NOT BE CONVICTED REGARDLESS OF THE STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.
+THE REASONING IS THAT IF A PERSON IS ACQUITTED OF AN OFFENCE, HE DID NOT COMMIT THAT OFFENCE AND, AS THE ACCUSED CANNOT CONSPIRE WITH HIMSELF, HE CANNOT BE GUILTY OF CONSPIRING WITH THOSE WHO DID NOT CONSPIRE WITH HIM, HE SAID.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THEREFORE SEEKS TO REMOVE AN ACCUSED PERSON'S ENTITLEMENT TO BE ACQUITTED ONLY BECAUSE HIS ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATORS HAVE BEEN ACQUITTED, A SIMILAR PROVISION HAS BEEN IN FORCE IN ENGLAND UNDER THE CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1977.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE ITS FIRST READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 27. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE MOVED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND FINAL READING IN THE COUNCIL ON AUGUST 3.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE BILL CAN WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (MAIN WING), LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
VISIT TO MUSIC OFFICE ***
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES SPENT THE WHOLE MORNING TODAY VISITING THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
THE MUSIC OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 1977 AIMED AT RUNNING AN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME, PROMOTING INTEREST IN MUSIC, AND ENCOURAGING AND ASSISTING IN ORGANISING MUSIC ACTIVITIES IN ALL DISTRICTS.
MR AKERS-JONES FIRST VISITED THE KWUN TONG MUSIC CENTRE WHERE HE WAS MET BY THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR AND ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR CLIVE OXLEY, THE ASSISTANT MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR (ADMINISTRATION) AND THE ASSISTANT MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR (PROFESSIONAL), MR THOMAS WANG,
MR M.W. LO
MR AKERS-JONES THEN PROCEEDED TO YAU MA TEI MUSIC CENTRE, BEFORE GOING ON TO THE HONG KONG MUSIC CENTRE AT ARTS CENTRE.
MR AKERS-JONES ALSO SAW VARIOUS TRAINING CLASSES IN PROGRESS AND TRAINEES AT REHEARSALS.
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