FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1983
THE BILL ALSO REVISES THE LOAN LIMIT FOR PAWNBROKING TRANSACTIONS FROM THE PRESENT LEVEL OF $5 000, FIXED IN 1970, TO $25 000.
IT ALSO PRESCRIBES A STANDARD MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST, IN LIEU OF DIFFERENT RATES FOR PARTICULAR CLASSES OF GOODS, WHICH IS TO BE 3.5 PER CENT PER LUNAR MONTH FOR ALL LOANS. THIS RATE EXPRESSED AS AN ANNUAL RATE OF INTEREST IS LESS THAN THE 48 PER CENT PER ANNUM LIMIT PRESCRIBED BY THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE, OVER WHICH RATES OF INTEREST ARE CONSIDERED TO BE EXTORTIONATE.
THE FIRST AND SECOND READING OF THE BILL WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 10. ITS LEGISLATIVE STAGES WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE NEW SESSION ON OCTOBER 12.
COMMENTS ON ITS PROVISIONS CAN BE ADDRESSED TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
DARK SMOKE REGULATIONS GAZETTED
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REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE EMISSION OF DARK SMOKE AND THE CONDUCTING OF APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS BY THE CONTROL AUTHORITY OR THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE ARE GAZETTED TODAY.
THEY WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON THE DAY APPOINTED FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE 1983.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (SMOKE) REGULATIONS 1983 REPLACE IN SUBSTANCE PROVISIONS UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE, WHICH IS TO BE REPEALED.
THE REGULATIONS ALSO RAISE THE PENALTY RELATING TO DARK SMOKE EMISSION FROM A FINE OF $2 000 TO $5 000. FOR EVERY ONE QUARTER OF AN HOUR OF EMISSION, THE ADDITIONAL FINE WILL BE $100 INSTEAD OF $50.
THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (APPEAL BOARD) REGULATIONS 1983, ALSO IN THE GAZETTE, SET OUT THE PROCEDURE FOR THE INITIATION AND PROCESSING OF APPEALS. THE RIGHT TO WHICH IS EXTENSIVELY CONFERRED UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.
AN APPEAL BOARD WILL BE CHAIRED BY A PERSON QUALIFIED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A DISTRICT JUDGE AND COMPOSED OF MEMBERS DRAWN FROM A PANEL TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
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