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WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987
RIGHTS OF INNOCENT THIRD PARTIES PROTECTED
THE
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN { AMENDMENT) BILL
IMPROVE THE
WOULD
THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY SAFEGUARDS OF THE RIGHTS OF INNOCENT THIRD PARTIES AND AT THE SAME TIME ENHANCE THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEGISLATION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUME DEBATE FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE
READILY BILL, MR THOMAS SAID THESE AMENDMENTS WERE
ACCEPTED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
NOTING THAT THE LATEST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST MONTH HAD NOT SHOWN ANY DROP IN CORRUPTION REPORTS, MR THOMAS 3LID THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION IN UPHOLDING STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AND TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY REMAINED AS VITAL AS EVER.
"AS ALWAYS IT IS NECESSARY CAREFULLY TO MAINTAIN A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, EVEN ONE WITH THE HIGH REPUTATION OF I.C.A.C., AND THE RIGHTS OF THE LAW-ABIDING PUBLIC GOING ABOUT ITS BUSINESS,
HE SAID.
HE THANKED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR THOROUGH AND HELPFUL STUDY OF THE BILL AND ITS COMPANION MEASURE, THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987.
MR THOMAS POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSALS IN THESE BILLS HAD SURVIVED A LONG AND EXACTING PROCESS OF EXAMINATION, NOT ONLY BY THE
OMELCO LEGCO AD HOC GROUP, BUT PREVIOUSLY BY THE
STANDING PANEL ON
SECURITY AS WELL AS THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY.
"MANY OF THE SUGGESTIONS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THESE BODIES HAVE AFFECTED NOT ONLY WHAT THE BILLS CONTAIN, BUT WHAT THEY NO LONGER CONTAIN," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE COULD NOW BE ASSURED BY THE FACT THAT ALL PARTIES WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE BILLS AS AMENDED то INCORPORATE THE MINOR CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE AD HOC GROUP.
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