WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987
19
THE AD HOC GROUP WAS ASSURED THAT CASES OF DETENTION IN SITU HAD BEEN INFREQUENT IN THE PAST, AND THAT GOODS WERE USUALLY DETAINED FOR NO MORE THAN A FEW DAYS, HE NOTED.
HE THEREFORE CALLED FOR AN ADDITIONAL PROVISION TO REQUIRE THAT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE OWNER OF THE PREMISES OR CONTAINER OR HIS AUTHORISED AGENT, BE SOUGHT IF THE DETENTION PERIOD EXCEEDED A WEEK.
THIS SHOULD BE A SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARD AND BE SATISFACTORY TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED, HE SAID.
REGARDING SECTION 16B, WHICH DEALS WITH THE POWERS OF ARREST AND ENTRY FOR AUTHORISED OFFICERS, MR LEE SAIDI +THIS PROVISION WILL STREAMLINE THE ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTING THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE.+
ANTICIPATING THE BEST POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, HE SUGGESTED THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CARRY OUT A VALUE-FOR-MONEY STUDY AS A FIRST STEP.
MR LEE ALSO NOTED THAT SECTION 30 AS DRAFTED CONTAINED NO OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO INFORM THE OWNER OF SUSPECT GOODS OF ANY FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS IF THE OWNER WAS NOT PROSECUTED.
+THE AD HOC GROUP CONSIDERED, HOWEVER, THAT UNLESS THE OWNER OF THE GOODS HAD INDICATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT HE NEEDED NOT BE SO INFORMED, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD PROVIDE A WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO THE OWNER OF THE GOODS, HE SAID.
+IN CASES WHEN THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE OWNER OF THE GOODS, IT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO INFORM ONLY ONE OF THEM, HE ADDED.
THE RELEVANT AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL PROPOSED BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP WERE MOVED BY THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM AT COMMITTEE STAGE.
WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON ERIC HO, THANKED MR LEE AND HIS COLLEAGUES FOR THE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE MEASURE.
HE COMMENTED THAT THE AMENDMENTS MOVED BY MR CHUNG PUI-LAM AT COMMITTEE STAGE HAD BEEN WORKED OUT AMICABLY BY THE AD HOC GROUP AND THE ADMINISTRATION AT TWO VERY CONSTRUCTIVE MEETINGS.
/AS REGARDS