7
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988
MR MATHEWS SAID THE BILL AMENDED SECTION 65B(3) (C) ΤΟ REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A CERTIFIED TRANSLATION WHERE THE PARTIES AGREED.
HE SAID THE SECTION, AS AMENDED, WOULD PROVIDE THAT IF A STATEMENT TENDERED IN EVIDENCE WAS MADE IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, IT SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION, WHICH SHOULD BE CERTIFIED, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENDANT (OR, IF MORE THAN ONE, ALL THE DEFENDANTS).
"WHERE ALL THE PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT AN AVAILABLE TRANSLATION IS SATISFACTORY, NO USEFUL PURPOSE IS SERVED BY REQUIRING THE COURT TO CERTIFY THE TRANSLATION, AND TIME MAY BE LOST AND COST INCURRED WHILE WAITING FOR IT TO DO SO," HE SAID.
MR MATHEWS SAID THE AMENDMENT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY A COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY, SET UP BY THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE ΤΟ EXAMINE QUESTIONS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
DETERRENT EFFECT OF FINES REQUIRES STRENGTHENING
THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF PENALTIES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION HAS DECLINED OVER THE YEARS, AND A REVIEW LAST YEAR SHOWED THAT FINES NEEDED ΤΟ BE INCREASED TO MAINTAIN THEIR VALUE IN REAL TERMS.
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY} WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988.
MR BRIDGE EXPLAINED THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1968 AND THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION OF ITS PROVISIONS WERE SET AT $5,000.
PAY,
ORDINANCE MATERNITY
A NUMBER OF NEW PROVISIONS HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE OVER THE YEARS, MOST NOTABLY PROVISIONS FOR SEVERANCE PROTECTION, ANNUAL LEAVE WITH PAY, SICKNESS ALLOWANCE AND LONG SERVICE PAY.
MAXIMUM PENALTIES UNDER THESE PROVISIONS HAD BEEN SET BETWEEN $1,000 AND $5,000.
/IN 1973 ..