FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1984
BORDER LIAISON MATTERS DISCUSSED
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A DELEGATION OF OFFICIALS FROM GUANGDONG PROVINCE, LED BY MR ZHANG JIANNAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU, AND INCLUDING MR FU FEN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS BUREAU, IS IN HONG KONG FOR THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF BORDER LIAISON MATTERS. THE REVIEW MEETING WAS HELD IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE HONG KONG TEAM WAS LED BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN, AND INCLUDED THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALAN MASON, AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR JAMES MURPHIE. THE BORDER LIAISON OFFICERS OF BOTH SIDES ALSO TOOK PART.
THE BORDER LIAISON SYSTEM WAS SET UP IN 1981, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO REVIEW ITS OPERATION OVER THE PAST YEAR. BOTH SIDES EXPRESSED THE IR SATISFACTION WITH THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE LIAISON OFFICERS WHO CONSTITUTE A VERY USEFUL CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON IMMIGRATION, POLICE AND CUSTOMS MATTERS.
IT WAS AGREED THAT THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN PARTICULARLY VALUABLE OVER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY, DURING WHICH LIAISON OFFICERS WERE IN DAILY CONTACT TO ENSURE THAT THE FLOW OF PASSENGERS REMA I NEJ SMOOTH DESPITE THE 25 PER CENT INCREASE IN NUMBERS OVER THE PREVIOUS RECORD.
THE TWO SIDES AGREED TO HOLD A FURTHER REVIEW MEETING IN NOVEMBER, IN GUANGDONG.
MR MCLAREN GAVE A DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE VISITORS FROM GUANGDONG YESTERDAY AND THE GUANGDONG TEAM WILL HOST A LUNCH TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
IMPROVEMENT TO FIXED PENALTY PROCEDURE PROPOSED ***
TWO BILLS CONTAINING AMENDMENTS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE FIXED PENALTY PROCEDURE ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS AN ANOMALY IN THE LAW IN THAT PERSONS WHO NEITHER PAY A FIXED PENALTY FINE NOR DISPUTE LIABILITY FOR THE OFFENCE ARE SUBJECT TO AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY, WHEREAS THE SAME PERSONS WHO SATISFY A MAGISTRATE THAT THEY DID NOT PAY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE NOTICE BUT SUBSEQUENTLY CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE FINE ARE NOT GIVEN THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY,
UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY, WHICH IS THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE FIXED PENALTY, WILL ALSO APPLY TO THESE OFFENDERS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE FINES WITHIN TIME LIMITS SET OUT IN THE TWO BILLS.
/ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE