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FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1984
+ THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MORE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 11 AND TO COMPLETE ITS REMAINING LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES ON JULY 25.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE BILL CAN WRITE TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD OR TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT AT QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG,
BILL TO RAISE COURT COST FOR LATE PAYMENT
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MOTORISTS WHO DELAY PAYMENT FOR THEIR FIXED PENALTY TICKETS UNTIL 72 HOURS BEFORE A COURT APPEARANCE AFTER PROSECUTION PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEGUN, MIGHT HAVE TO PAY A HIGHER COURT COST OF $70.
THE PROPOSAL IS MADE UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED TODAY.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO SIMPLIFY PROCEDURES BY ALLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REVISE THIS COST IN FUTURE BY MEANS OF A RESOLUTION.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE COURT COST IS INTENDED TO ENFORCE PROMPT PAYMENT OF THE FIXED PENALTY FINES AS WELL AS TO MEET THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST FOR PROCESSING THE PROCEEDINGS.
THE BILL IS THE FIRST PROPOSAL TO REVISE THIS COST SINCE IT WAS SET AT $25 IN 1976, HE SAID.
A SIMILAR REVISION OF THE COURT COST UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTION) ORDINANCE WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL AT ITS SITTING ON JULY 11 AND IS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON JULY 25.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE * REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT, QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.
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