WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984
15
PRESCRIPTION FOR BETTER LAW
X X X
A BILL TO CLEAR UP AN ANOMALY IN THE LAW WHEREBY A PATIENT CAN BE THEORETICALLY LIABLE TO PROSECUTION FOR POSSESSION OF ANTIBIOTICS OR POISONS ISSUED BY PRESCRIPTION WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR HENRY CHING EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE ANTIBIOTICS ORDINANCE AND THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, THE POSSESSION OF VARIOUS SPECIFIED ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCES AND POISONS IS PROHIBITED.
A COURT JUDGEMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1982 HAD DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PROHIBITION MAY BE TAKEN TO APPLY TO A PATIENT WHO POSSESSES THEM EVEN IF HE DOES SO AS A RESULT OF A PROPERLY
ISSUED PRESCRIPTION.
THE ANTIBIOTICS, PHARMACY AND POISONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1984, READ A SECOND TIME TODAY, STATES THAT POSSESSION WITH A PRESCRIPTION IS NOT AN OFFENCE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
AVERAGE FINE FOR PORNO VIDEO TAPES: $2 500
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FINES IMPOSED BY COURTS IN CASES CONCERNING THE SALE OR RENT OF PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEO TAPES AVERAGED $2 500, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HOWEVER, FINES AS HIGH AS $51 500 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR
SIX MONTHS HAD BEEN PASSED IN SERIOUS CASES, HE SAID,
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR BRAY SAID THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WAS A FINE OF $100 000 AND THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.
OWNERS ADVISED ABOUT AIR-CONDITIONERS
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OWNERS OF AIR-CONDITIONERS WHICH FALL FROM BUILDINGS CAN BE FINED AND IMPRISONED, SAID THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE
·HON NICKY CHAN, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON F.K. HU WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT AIR-CONDITIONERS ARE SECURELY INSTALLED - PARTICULARLY IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS.
/MR CHAN