1984
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4,.
24
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG
MR MORTIMER SAID THAT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT WAS ADMINISTERED ON 14 OCCASIONS IN 1981, 13 IN 1982, 19 IN 1983 AND 17 IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
+ IN OVER 90 PER CENT OF THESE CASES, THE PUNISHMENT WAS AWARDED ON CONVICTION FOR THE OFFENCE OF POSSESSING AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE, HE SAID.
ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AS A DETERRENT TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, HE SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN STUDIED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY COMMITTEES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THESE COMMITTEES CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT IT WAS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ANY OTHER FORM OF PUNISHMENT.
HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT A SIMILAR STUDY, ON A LIMITED SCALE WAS CONDUCTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN 1983 AND THE FINDINGS WERE IN ACCORD WITH THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY THE UK COMMITTEES.
+HAVING SAID THIS, I MUST STRESS THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY PUNISHMENT AS A DETERRENT REQUIRES AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT ON THE MIND OF A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL.
+ IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ANY ACCURATE STATISTICAL EVIDENCE TO ASSESS THIS EFFECT AND ANY ASSESSMENT MUST ULTIMATELY CONTAIN A LARGE ELEMENT OF SUBJECTIVITY ON THE PART OF THE ASSESSOR, + MR MORTIMER SAID.
NINE BILLS PASSED * * *
NINE BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. THEY ARE: THE CHINESE VISA OFFICE (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) BILL 1984, THE CONVEYANCING AND PROPERTY BILL 1984, THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE JURY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1984, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984, THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE FOREIGN MARRIAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE LEGITIMACY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO THURSDAY (AUGUST 2).
125
F