WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987
19
GREEN PAPER OPTIONS IN LINE WITH JOINT DECLARATION
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THE PUBLIC ARE FREE TO COMMENT ON THE OPTIONS OF THE GREEN PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AS THEY WOULD NOT BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM ON WHETHER THE PUBLIC WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE ISSUE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS WITHOUT FEARING THAT BY DOING SO THEY WOULD BE INFRINGING THE PROVISIONS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION.
HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON ALL THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER.
MR LIAO SAID MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE FREE TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE ANY OF THE OPTIONS DISCUSSED IN THE GREEN PAPER.
+WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THEM IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION, MR LIAO SAID.
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER CIGARETTE SALE BAN ON YOUNG PERSONS
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THERE IS AT PRESENT NO PLAN TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO BAN THE SALE OF CIGARETTES TO PERSONS UNDER 18 IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH STATISTICALLY THE EFFECT OF SUCH LEGISLATION, SINCE SO MANY OTHER FACTORS ALSO AFFECTED THE NUMBERS OF YOUNG SMOKERS.
HE SAID THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES PROHIBITED THE SALE OF CIGARETTES TO CHILDREN UNDER 16. THESE INCLUDED THE UNITED KINGDOM, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, ICELAND AND SPAIN. URUGUAY BANNED CIGARETTE SALES TO PERSONS UNDER 18.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE BRITISH LEGISLATION DATED BACK TO 1933 AND THE PENALTY FOR THIS OFFENCE WAS INCREASED LAST YEAR.
'+HOWEVER, ACCORDING