IN
APAL 24, 1985
SELECT COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT COMMERCIAL CRIMES
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SIR ROGER LOBO, SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE INTENDED TO PRESENT A MOTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 1 PROPOSING THE SETTING UP OF A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.
THIS WAS THE DECISION REACHED AT AN IN-HOUSE MEETING OF UNOFFICIALS THIS MORNING WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM MR PETER C WONG, CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN EXAMINING THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL. DURING THE AD HOC GROUP'S DELIBERATIONS SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL, A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS HAD BEEN HEARD AND MANY OF THEM HAD RAISED ISSUES OUTSIDE THE PRIVISIONS OF THE BILL.
IT IS THEREFORE THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' VIEW THAT THE TERMS OF THE MOTION SHOULD BE WIDE ENOUGH TO ENABLE THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALL THE PROBLEMS CONCERNING COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES AND NOT ONLY THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL.
SIR ROGER ENVISAGED THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD CONSIDER AND DRAW ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBMISSIONS AND MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE REPORT OF THE ROSKILL COMMITTEE ON FRAUD TRIALS WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED. HE HOPED THE SELECT COMMITTEE WOULD START ITS WORK IMMEDIATELY.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR ROGER SAID, WOULD BE INVITED TO APPOINT THE COMMITTEE UNDER STANDING ORDER 61(1). HE ADDED HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION.
+THE BILL IS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT HE ENVISAGED THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL WOULD REMAIN ADJOURNED AND WOULD NOT BE RESUMED ON MAY 15.
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