FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1964
ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT PROPOSED WILL ALLOW THE POLICE AT ANY TIME TO APPLY TO A MAGISTRATE TO RESCIND ORDERS FOR PAYMENT OF A FIXED PENALTY OR SUBSEQUENT RELATED ORDERS.
THIS IN PRACTICE GIVES THE POLICE POWERS TO RECTIFY A MISTAKE WHICH DOES NOT SURFACE FOR SOME TIME, SUCH AS THOSE BROUGHT ABOUT BY INCORRECT DATA INPUT.
BOTH BILLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THEIR FIRST READING ON FEBRUARY 15 AND TO GO THROUGH THE REMAINING LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON MARCH 14.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THEIR PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, AT ST JOHN'S BUILDING, 8TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
LAW EXAM PROPOSED FOR ACCOUNTANTS
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ACCOUNTANTS WHO WISH TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG MAY BE REQUIRED IN FUTURE TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE ACQUAINTED WITH LOCAL LAW AND PRACTICE BY SITTING AN EXAMINATION AND BY HAVING HAD NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR FULL-TIME APPROVED ACCOUNTING EXPERIENCE LOCALLY,
THIS REQUIREMENT WILL AMPLIFY THE EXISTING LAW WHICH STIPULATES THAT APPLICANTS FOR PRACTISING CERTIFICATES MUST BE ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG AND MUST POSSESS THE NECESSARY LOCAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
PRACTISING CERTIFICATES, WHICH ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY, WILL ONLY BE RENEWED, AS AT PRESENT, IF THEIR HOLDERS HAVE STAYED IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST 180 DAYS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THESE PROPOSALS, UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED TODAY, ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL PRACTICE ARE GIVEN PRACTISING CERTIFICATES.
THE PROPOSALS WERE INITIATED BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS, THE STATUTORY REGULATORY BODY FOR THE PROFESSION, WHO WISH TO ENSURE THAT THE HIGH STANDARDS OF ITS MEMBERS ARE MAINTAINED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE AMENDMENT BILL ALSO INCREASES THE NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CHANGES THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIETY, AND INTRODUCES A SIMPLER WAY TO CHANGE THE COMMITTEE'S PROCEDURES.
IT WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON MARCH 14.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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