WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1984
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YOUNG PROTECTED FROM TATTOOS
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FORTY PER CENT OF YOUNG PERSONS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE TATTOOED, ACCORDING TO RECENT SURVEYS,
THIS WAS SAID TODAY BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON G.L. MORTIMER, AS HE MOVED THE SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE TATTOOING OF YOUNG PERSONS BILL 1984.
+THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO PROHIBIT THE TATTOOING OF ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS EXCEPT FOR MEDICAL REASONS BY A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, HE SAID.
+RECENT SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OF YOUNG PERSONS RESIDING IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER THEIR CONTROL HAVE SHOWN THAT APPROXIMATELY FORTY PER CENT OF THE INMATES WERE TATTOOED. MAGISTRATES SITTING IN THE JUVENILE COURT IN HONG KONG HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO BE EXTENSIVELY TATTOOED.
+THIS ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TATTOOS AND CRIMINAL OR DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR MAKES THE REHABILITATION OF SUCH YOUNG PERSONS ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT, SINCE PROFESSIONALLY EXECUTED TATTOOS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE.
+A WAYWARD YOUNG PERSON IS THUS LIABLE TO BEAR THIS PHYSICAL REMINDER OF AN ILL-SPENT YOUTH FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.+
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLYING WITH THE NEW RULES WILL BE ON THE TATTOOIST RATHER THAN THE YOUNG PERSON, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
RULES UNDER COMPANIES ORDINANCE APPROVED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONCURRED TODAY WITH SECTION 296 OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, EMPOWERING THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO MAKE GENERAL RULES CONCERNING THE WINDING-UP OF COMPANIES.
UNDER THE SECTION, THE CHIEF JUSTICE IS ALSO EMPOWERED TO MAKE RULES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, INCLUDING RULES ON COSTS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN MOVING A RESOLUTION UNDER THE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
+THESE AMENDMENTS ARE CONSEQUENTIAL UPON THE ENACTMENT OF THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1984, AND ARE REQUIRED TO BRING THE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION INTO LINE WITH THE NEW PROVISIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL COMPANIES ORDINANCE, MR JACOBS EXPLAINED.
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