21
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986
BUT HE HOPED THAT THE POWER OF THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES TO REFUSE APPLICATIONS FOR RENUNCIATION COULD BE USED WHERE NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE SCHEME FROM BEING ABUSED BY HARDENED CRIMINALS.
HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT IF POSSIBLE RENUNCIATION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED AS A FORMAL CEREMONY IN CAMERA BEFORE A MAGISTRATE.
MR LAI SAID THE OPTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF EVIDENCE WAS FEASIBLE, BUT THE LEGISLATION MUST PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY IN APPLICATION.
+ IF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN BY A WITNESS ARE CONTRADICTORY, SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS.+
HE
+ THE COURT ALSO HAS TO INVESTIGATE CAREFULLY TO SEE IF THE WITNESS' EXPLANATIONS ARE SATISFACTORY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER HE HAS COMMITTED PERJURY, + HE SAID.
MR LAI ALSO SAID THE DOCUMENT FAILED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE SITUATION CONCERNING TRIAD SOCIETIES AND PLACED TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON EXPANDING THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION OF THE POLICE AND ON THE CHARGING OF SUSPECTS.
HE AGREED THAT MORE SEVERE SENTENCES SHOULD BE IMPOSED IN TACKLING CRIME, BUT NOT NECESSARILY BY PUTTING THE EMPHASIS ON AMENDING THE LAW.
THE CRIME PROBLEM COULD BE DEALT WITH MORE THOROUGHLY BY FOCUSING ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, HE SUGGESTED.
HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING STRICTER CONTROLS ON THE LICENSING OF BILLIARD SALOONS AND AUTOMATIC GAMES CENTRES.
+EFFORTS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL ESTABLISHMENTS WHILE PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE CHANNEL FOR THE PUBLIC TO REPORT TRIAD ACTIVITIES, HE ADDED.
POLICE SUPERVISION DOUBLE PUNISHMENT IN DISGUISE'
*****
THE OPTION FOR POLICE SUPERVISION PROPOSED BY THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON THE TRIAD PROBLEM REPRESENTED A FORM OF DOUBLE PUNISHMENT IN DISGUISE+, DR THE HON CONRAD LAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IT WAS UNFAIR FOR THE POLICE TO UNDERTAKE FURTHER SUPERVISION OF DISCHARGED TRIAD OFFENDERS WHO HAD ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR DUE PUNISHMENT THROUGH IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE DISCSSION DOCUMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
/+UNDER