WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1984
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THESE REDUCTIONS, HE ADDED, WILL ALSO BE DETERMINED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL.
CLAUSE 7 OF THE BILL PROVIDES THAT TENEMENTS HAVING AN ESTIMATED RATEABLE VALUE BELOW A LEVEL DETERMINED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL MAY BE EXEMPT FROM ASSESSMENT TO RATES ALTOGETHER.
NOTING THAT THE EXISTING MINIMUM RATEABLE VALUE IS $200, SIR JOHN SAID IT IS SENSIBLE THAT THE FIGURE SHOULD BE REVISED UPWARDS WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1.
TENANTS OF DOMESTIC UNITS IN HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES REPRESENT OVER 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF HONG KONG.
SIR JOHN POINTED OUT THAT THEY DO NOT PAY RATES DIRECT AND WILL NOT BE AFFECTED IMMEDIATELY BY THE GENERAL REVALUATION.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THEIR RENTS, WHICH INCLUDE AN ELEMENT FOR RATES, ARE ONLY REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS, AND THESE REVIEWS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE TENANTS' INCOME LEVEL.
DE BATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO FEBRUARY 15.
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CONVENIENT WAYS OF HANDLING MINOR OFFENCES PROPOSED
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THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PROVIDES A CONVENIENT WAY OF DEALING WITH THE VAST NUMBER OF MINOR OFFENCES IN WHICH IN PRACTICE DEFENDANTS WANT TO HAVE THE MATTER DISPOSED OF WITH THE LEAST PERSONAL INCONVENIENCE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AT THE SAME TIME THE BILL PRESERVES THE DEFENDANTS' RIGHT TO BE HEARD, MR THOMAS POINTED OUT, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE ONE MILLION CASES PRESENTLY DEALT WITH EACH YEAR BY WAY OF SUMMONS WILL BE DISPOSED OF UNDER THE PROPOSED PROCEDURES WITH CONSEQUENT SAVING OF TIME AND EXPENSES TO DEFENDANTS, PROSECUTING OFFICERS AND TO THE COURTS AS WELL, HE SAID.
MR THOMAS POINTED OUT THAT THE NEED TO ACHIEVE THESE SAVINGS BY THE MEASURES PROPOSED HAD BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE LEGAL PROFESSION WHO HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND HAD EXPRESSED SUPPORT IN PRINCIPLE.
HE RECALLED THAT IN 1981, THE CHIEF JUSTICE SET UP A WORKING PARTY WITH REPRESENTATION FROM THE JUDICIARY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, THE POLICE AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING SUITABLE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH MINOR OFFENCES,
THE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKING PARTY ARE NOW SET OUT IN THE BILL.