WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1984
10
+SIMILARLY, TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, LECTURERS AND OTHER ACADEMIC OFFICERS WILL BECOME LIABLE TO SERVE ON JURIES. BUT THE PRESENT LIMITED EXEMPTION IN FAVOUR OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL, HE SAID.
PROVISION IS ALSO MADE IN THE BILL FOR RANDOM SELECTION OF
JURORS BY COMPUTER.
+ SOMETIMES CASES COME TO LIGHT OF EMPLOYERS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE IR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF JURY SERVICE. THERE IS IN MY VIEW A CASE FOR RAISING THE EXISTING PENALTY TO A FINE OF $25 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS, HE SAID,
DEBATE ON BOTH BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
'CLUMSY' LEGCO PROCEDURES REMOVED BY NEW ORDERS
***
A NEW STANDING ORDER -- 7A PROVIDING FOR THE HOLDING OF SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTINGS DURING A RECESS, WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE AMENDMENT, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, RECALLED THE +CLUMSY PROCEDURE+, REQUIRED FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT A FEW HOURS' NOTICE ON SEPTEMBER 27 LAST YEAR, TO DEAL WITH THE +HANG LUNG BANK INCIDENT+.
+DURING THOSE FEW HOURS, BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY CLOSED THE PREVIOUS SESSION AND NOT YET OPENED THE NEXT ONE, WE HAD TO PULL THE COUNCIL OUT OF RECESS BY OPENING THE NEXT SESSION AND THIS INVOLVED NOT ONLY CHANGING THE DATE AND HOUR OF THE NEXT SITTING, AS YOU, SIR, ARE EMPOWERED TO DO UNDER STANDING ORDER 7(3), BUT THE GAZETTING OF THE NEW DATE AND HOUR UNDER STANDING ORDER 5 (3).
+THIS WAS A CLUMSY PROCEDURE NECESSITATED BY THE LACK OF SUITABLE PROVISIONS IN THE STANDING ORDERS TO COVER ANY SPECIAL SITTINGS HELD DURING THE SUMMER RECESS.
+NEW STANDING ORDER 74, THEREFORE, AIMS AT PUTTING THIS RIGHT BY PROVIDING THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY, WHERE HE IS SATISFIED THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST SO REQUIRES, DETERMINE THAT A SITTING.OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE HELD ON SUCH DAY AND SHALL BEGIN AT SUCH HOUR AS HE MAY SPECIFY, AND THAT THE PROCEDURES FOR THAT SITTING SHOULD FOLLOW THOSE FOR ANY ORDINARY SITTING HELD DURING A SESSION,+ MR BRAY SAID.
MR BRAY ADDED THAT +EMERGENCIES ARE BY THE IR NATURE UNEXPECTED, AND NO EXTRA MEETINGS ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS MOMENT. +
/STANDING ORDER