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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1987
HIGHER FINES FOR FISHERIES OFFENCES PROPOSED
BILL 1987,
UNDER THE FISHERIES PROTECTION { AMENDMENT)
THE MAXIMUM FINE THAT MIGHT BE PRESCRIBED FOR CONTRAVENTION OF RELEVANT REGULATIONS WOULD BE INCREASED FROM $5,000 TO $10,000, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
THE BILL WOULD ALSO IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF THE FISHERIES PROTECTION ORDINANCE, HE SAID.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR JACOBS SAID THE FISHERIES PROTECTION ORDINANCE WAS INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF FISH, TO REGULATE FISHING PRACTICES AND то PREVENT ACTIVITIES DETRIMENTAL TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY.
"ITS REGULATIONS PROHIBIT THE USE OR POSSESSION OF ANY EXPLOSIVE OR TOXIC SUBSTANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF FISHING AND SPECIFY PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION.
"THE REGULATIONS FURTHER PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON IN CHARGE OF A VESSEL INVOLVED IN SUCH AN OFFENCE IS ALSO LIABLE ΤΟ SPECIFIED PENALTIES," HE SAID.
IN THE
IT HAD
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED ORDINANCE HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS AND BECOME CLEAR THAT THEY NO LONGER SERVED AS AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.
FINE FROM
THE BILL THEREFORE PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM $5,000 TO $10,000. THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR THE USE OF ANY EXPLOSIVE OR TOXIC SUBSTANCE IN FISHING OR FOR BEING IN CHARGE OF A VESSEL INVOLVED IN SUCH AN OFFENCE SHOULD BE $10,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID.
THE BILL ALSO SOUGHT TO IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF THE FISHERIES PROTECTION ORDINANCE BY PROVIDING THAT CERTAIN POWERS IN RELATION TO THE PROOF OF CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE REGULATIONS BE. VESTED IN AUTHORISED OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR JACOBS SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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