WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 1987
*
59
WIDE PUBLICITY FOR NEW BILL ADVOCATED
*
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON
(WEDNESDAY) ADVOCATED WIDEST POSSIBLE
HILTON CHEONG-LEEN TODAY AND SUSTAINED PUBLICITY BK
GIVEN TO THE CONTENTS OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL 1987.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IR CHEONG-LEEN SAID WIDE PUBLICITY WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST BILL DRAFTED AND GAZETTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE.
HE SAID IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF ACTIVE COOPERATION COULD BE OBTAINED FROM BODIES SUCH AS DISTRICT BOARDS, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, THE URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL, CONSUMER COUNCIL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, AS WELL AS HANKER AND RETAILER ASSOCIATIONS.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT A SIMPLIER BILINGUAL VERSION OF THE BILL BE PRODUCED TO MAKE THE CONTENTS MORE DIGESTIBLE.
HE SAID HE WAS GLAD TO LEARN THAT A COORDINATING COMMITTEE UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH HAD ALREADY BEEN SET UP TO ENSURE THAT PUBLICITY WOULD BE SUSTAINED AND EFFECTIVE BEFORE THE BILL WAS FINALLY BROUGHT INTO EFFECT.
NEW CHILD ABUSE PROTECTION MEASURES TO BE MONITORED
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
1987
AND
THAT
IN WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID НЕ WAS "MOST GRATIFYING THIS IMPORTANT BILL HAS RECEIVED A GENERAL WELCOME AND THAT IT WILL BE IN EFFECT BEFORE THE END OF THE PRESENT SESSION."
MR CHAMBERS SAID HE NOTED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR SOME CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF SEVEN TO APPEAR IN COURT.
"THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS PROVISION IS TO ENABLE THE COURT то TAKE THE CHILD'S VIEWS INTO ACCOUNT. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHILD NEED NOT ATTEND THE ENTIRE HEARING, AND THE JUDGE ALSO HAŠ DISCRET FON TO REQUIRE THE PARENTS OR GUARDIAN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COURT, IF HE WISHES TO HEAR THE CHILD'S VIEWS ON HIS OWN," HE ADDED.
MR CHAMBERS ALSO NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD OBSERVE CAREFULLY HOW THE AMENDED PROVISIONS OPERATE IN PRACTICE, AND IF NECESSARY, FURTHER AMENDMENTS COULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.
/60