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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985
+ HONESTLY BELIEVE, THAT, FOR THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TAX CONCESSION GOVERNMENT GRANTS, GOVERNMENT GAINS FINANCIALLY A LOT MORE BY LITERALLY HAVING A LARGE SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY LOOKING TOWARDS MEETING THE IR MEDICAL NEEDS THROUGH PRIVATE MEANS,+ SHE SAID.
TURNING TO LEGAL ISSUES SHE SAID THAT SINCE JANUARY 1984, THE JURISDICTION FOR CIVIL CLAIMS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS HAD BEEN RAISED TO $60 000, RESULTING IN AN INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES WHICH SHOULD PREVIOUSLY BE HEARED IN THE HIGH COURT GOING TO THE DISTRICT COURTS.
+HOWEVER, IT GIVES NO JOY TO THE SUCCESSFUL LITIGANT AT THE END OF THE TRIAL BECAUSE THE TAXED COST WAS VERY LOW AND USUALLY ONLY REPRESENTED 30 TO 60 PER CENT OF THE ACTUAL COST, AND THE BALANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OUT BY THE SUCCESSFUL LITIGANT TO HIS OWN SOLICITORS AND COUNSEL,+ SHE SAID.
SHE SAID SHE FELT IT WAS TIME THE DISTRICT COURT COSTS BE REVISED UPWARDS TO A MORE REALISTIC SCALE TO REFLECT CLOSELY THE TRUE COST.
DR IP ALSO SUGGESTED THAT MORE MINOR OFFENCES SHOULD BE FINED BY FIXED PENALTIES.
SHE SAID THE STARTING PENALTY SHOULD NOT BE HIGH SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE PREPARED TO PLEAD GUILTY WHEN APPROPRIATE.
+THEREAFTER, THE DETERENT EFFECT WOULD BE MUCH STRONGER IF THE FINES COULD BE INCREASED ON A FIXED SCALE ON REPEATED CONVICTIONS SO THAT THE OFFENDER WILL REFRAIN FROM BREAKING THE LAW WHEN IT BECOMES TOO COSTLY FOR HIM TO DO SO, SHE ADDED.
ACTION AGAINST UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADS NEEDED
****
THE GOVERNMENT WAS URGED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE AND PROMPT ACTION AGAINST UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAK ING AT THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR CHIU SAID THE PUBLIC WAS EASILY AND FREQUENTLY MISLED BY THESE ADVERTISEMENTS AND CONSEQUENTLY MANY PATIENTS DID NOT RECEIVE PROPER TREATMENT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE IR HEALTH.
+THESE ADVERTISEMENTS DO INSTITUTE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.
+MUST WE WAIT UNTIL LIVES ARE LOST BEFORE EFFECTIVE ACTIONS ARE TAKEN?+ HE ASKED.
/HE RECALLED