FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1984
INCREASE IN FIREARMS PENALTY SOUGHT
** * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING FURTHER STEPS TO CLAMP DOWN ON THE USE OF FIREARMS IN CRIME BY SEEKING TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR THREE SERIOUS FIREARM OFFENCES FROM 14 YEARS' TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES SUBSTANTIALLY FOR TWO SIMILAR OFFENCES OF A LESS SERIOUS NATURE.
THE NEW MAXIMUM PENALTIES, WHICH WERE RECOMMENDED BY A FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE USE OF FIREARMS IN CRIME, ARE CONTAINED IN THE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE BILL REFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO HALT THE INCREASING USE OF FIREARMS IN CRIME BY MAKING THOSE WHO COMMIT SUCH OFFENCES LIABLE TO LONG TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT.
FURTHER LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE UNDER PREPARATION WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF IMITATION FIREARMS, HE ADDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT LIFE IMPRISONMENT WAS PROPOSED FOR THE OFFENCES OF POSSESSING ARMS OR AMMUNITION WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE, USING ARMS OR AMMUNITION OR IMITATION FIREARMS TO RESIST ARREST, AND CARRYING ARMS OR AMMUNITION OR IMITATION FIREARMS WITH CRIMINAL INTENT.
IT WAS ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY BE INCREASED FROM 10 YEARS TO 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT FOR POSSESSING ARMS OR AMMUNITION WITHOUT A LICENCE, AND FROM FIVE YEARS TO 14 YEARS FOR CONVERTING AN IMITATION FIREARM INTO A GENUINE FIREARM.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE BILL ALSO SOUGHT TO AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SO THAT IF A DEFENDANT IS ACQUITTED OF POSSESSING AN IMITATION FIREARM WITH CRIMINAL INTENT, HE MAY BE CONVICTED OF THE LESSER ALTERNATIVE OFFENCE OF SIMPLE POSSESSION.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSED TO AMEND THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE SO THAT CASES INVOLVING THE THREE SERIOUS FIREARM OFFENCES CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE DISTRICT COURT.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING ON JULY 11 AND TO COMPLETE THE REMAINING LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES ON JULY 25.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL MAY WRITE TO THE UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD; OR THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, MAIN WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
/2