FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1986
THE PROPOSAL IS CONTAINED IN THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WHICH WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND SECTION 42(2) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON WHO TRANSFERS A TRAVEL DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENTS ISSUED UNDER THE ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE.
AS WITH OTHER OFFENCES UNDER THIS SECTION, THE OFFENDER WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A $20 000 FINE AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT ON SUMMARY CONVICTION AND TO A FINE OF $50 000 AND IMPRISONEMENT FOR 14 YEARS ON CONVICTION ON INDICTMENT.
A SIMILAR PROVISION RELATING TO HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS ALREADY EXISTS UNDER. THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE PROPOSED MEASURE ANY PERSON WHO SOLD OR LENT A TRAVEL DOCUMENT TO ANOTHER PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THAT PERSON TO STAY IN HONG KONG OR TRAVEL ABROAD, WHETHER OR NOT FOR A FINANCIAL GAIN, WOULD BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE.
IN ADDITION, THE BILL PROVIDED FOR CERTIFIED COPIES OF RECORDS KEPT BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION TO BE ADMISSIBLE AS EVIDENCE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS. IT ALSO SOUGHT TO BROADEN THE DEFINITION OF +OWNER+ IN SECTION 2(1) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE OWNER IN RELATION TO A VEHICLE, WHILE UNDER THE PRESENT LAW IT RELATED ONLY TO A SHIP OR AIRCRAFT.
+THIS PROPOSAL WILL ASSIST THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION TO OVERCOME PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES NOW ENCOUNTERED IN SERVING NOTICES OF SEIZURE OF A VEHICLE WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF FORFEITURE UNDER RELEVANT PROVISION IN THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
ADVERTISEMENT SIGN CONTROL POWER TRANSFERRED
*****
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS WILL NOW BE THE AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING REGULATIONS ON ADVERTISEMENT SIGNS AND THE CONTROL OF DANGEROUS SIGNS IN THE URBAN
AREA RESPECTIVELY.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE (AMENDMENT OF THIRD SCHEDULE) ORDER 1986, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), PROVIDES FOR THIS TRANSFER OF POWER FROM THE URBAN COUNCIL TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS.
A SPOKESMAN