ONLY ONE HOLIDAY LIST PLANNED
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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND THE HOLIDAYS ORDINANCE TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR DIRECT AMENDMENT TO THE LIST OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN THE ORDINANCE, AND ALL ADDITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS TO THIS LIST ARE SEPARATELY RECORDED BY ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
THE AMENDMENT WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING LIST OF HOLIDAYS WITH A SCHEDULE WHICH CAN BE DIRECTLY AMENDED BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THUS AVOIDING ACCUMULATION OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
THE HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 PUBLISHED TODAY ALSO ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AN ALTERNATIVE DATE TO THE SECOND SATURDAY IN JUNE AS THE DAY ON WHICH THE BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IS CELEBRATED.
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY MAY BE CELEBRATED EITHER ONE SATURDAY EARLIER OR LATER THAN THE SECOND SATURDAY.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST READING AND COMMENCEMENT OF SECOND READING ON NOVEMBER 9 AND IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ALL LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON NOVEMBER 23.
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS GAZETTED
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TWO TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS WHICH WERE OMITTED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS) BILL IN THE LAST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE GAZETTED TODAY.
THESE AMENDMENTS ARE CONSEQUENTIAL UPON THE CHANGE MOVED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO REDUCE FROM THREE TO TWO YEARS THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH OFFENCES HAD TO BE COMMITTED FOR A PERSON TO BE DISQUALIFIED FROM DRIVING.
THE BILL WAS PASSED ON JUNE 8 WITHOUT THESE AMENDMENTS AND THE NEW LEGISLATION IS TO BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION IN AUGUST NEXT YEAR.
THE AMENDMENT BILL PUBLISHED TODAY TO RECTIFY THIS OMISSION WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 9 AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON NOVEMBER 23.
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