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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987
THE RELEVANT AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL PROPOSED BY THE AD HOC GROUP WERE MOVED BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AND THE HON ANDREW WONG RESPECTIVELY AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL.
THANKING MR HU FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THE BILL, MR LIAO ASSURED HIM THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER CERTAIN REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, PROVIDED EACH CASE COULD BE JUSTIFIED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
FINES UNDER SOCIETIES ORDINANCE INCREASED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR A NUMBER OF OFFENCES UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE.
MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID ITS MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE WAS TO EMPHASISE THE GOVERNMENT'S DRIVE TO TACKLE TRIADS FIRMLY.
HE SAID THE MOTION ALSO AIMED AT RESTORING THE REAL LEVELS OF FINES IN THE PROVISIONS, AND TO REMOVE AN APPARENT IMBALANCE WHICH RESULTED WHEN SOME OF THE FINES UNDER THE ORDINANCE WERE INCREASED IN 1982.
MR JEAFFRESON NOTED THAT SOME OF THE FINES HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED MOST SINCE 1957, OR 1961 OR 1964, AND HAD LOST THEIR IMPACT WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME.
MR JEAFFRESON ALSO SAID THAT ONE OF THE OPTIONS IN THE +DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON OPTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEM+ ISSUED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IN APRIL LAST YEAR, WAS TO REVISE THE FINES AVAILABLE UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE. THIS HAD BEEN SUPPORTED BY DISTRICT BOARDS, DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES AS WELL AS SOME LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
HE SAID: IN ORDER TO BRING THE FINES UP-TO-DATE WITH RESPECT TO INFLATION, A FIVEFOLD INCREASE IS NECESSARY. THIS LEVEL OF INCREASE IS PROPOSED FOR THOSE SECTIONS WHICH DO NOT DEAL WITH TRIAD RELATED OR OTHER SERIOUS OFFENCES.
/+ALTHOUGH THEY