12
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
OF
IMPRISONMENT
"THE MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE
AND $500,000 FOR TWO YEARS IS PROPOSED FOR A CONTRAVENTION OF THESE CONTROLS, SECRETARY SAID.
Th THE
AGAINST AS REGARDS TO THE PROBLEM OF TAKING ACTION
THOSE WHO THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTED SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES ON LAND, MR ASPREY SAID
NEW OFFENCES OF PROPOSED IN CLAUSES 7 AND 11 TO CREATE
KNOWINGLY
OF
CARGO UNMANIFESTED
AND ASSISTING IN THE EXPORT OR CARRIAGE RESTRICTED ARTICLES OR PROHIBITED ARTICLES.
OF
"THERE WILL BE
PRESUMPTION OF SURROUNDING THE SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES DEALING WITH SUCH ARTICLES OR CARGO.
A
KNOWLEDGE WHEN THERE ARK
HANDLING ACQUISITION,
OR
||
TO A PERSON
HE POINTED OUT THAT A DEFENCE WOULD BE AVAILABLE
IF HE COULD GIVE A REASONABLE AGAINST WHOM SUCH A CHARGE IS MADE EXPLANATION FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
OR
IMPRISONMENT FOR HE ADDED.
"A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $500,000 TWO YEARS IS ALSO PROPOSED FOR THESE NEW OFFENCES,
THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE
OF
OF
AS REGARDS
REPAIR AND SMUGGLING, THERE SPEEDBOATS USED FOR
WAS AN EXISTING OFFENCE STRUCTURE OF ANY VESSEL POR THE ALTERING THE FITTINGS, FABRIC OR
ARTICLE INTO OR OUT OF PURPOSE OF SMUGGLING ANY
HONG KONG,
THE
SECRETARY NOTED.
EXTEND THIS OFFENCE "WE PROPOSE, IN CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL, TO
AND TO INCREASE TO COVER THE USE OF A VESSEL WITH SUCH ALTERATIONS, THE PENALTY TO IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND A FINE OF $500,000.
WITH THE SAME BE ON BOARD A FOR SMUGGLING
OFFENCE "CLAUSE 5 OF THE BILL WILL MAKE IT AN
MAINTAIN, REPAIR OR MAXIMUM PENALTY TO CONSTRUCT,
THAN 250 TONS CONSTRUCTED VESSEL OF LESS PURPOSES, HR SAID.
**
OR USED
CONSTRUCTED OR
MR ASPREY SAID UNDER THIS NEW SECTION A VESSEL USED FOR SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES IS DEFINED AS ONE WHICH IS REASONABLY
BE SO USED, AND SUSPECTED TO BE SO USED, OR INTENDED TO
HAS SOME FEATURES CHARACTERISTIC OF THE HIGH-POWERED SPEEDBOATS USED FOR SMUGGLING.
THESE FEATURES INCLUDED THE PRESENCE OF SECRET HIDING PLACES,
A THE FACILITY TO MOUNT MORE THAN TWO OUTBOARD ENGINES WITH
COMBINED FUEL POWER IN EXCESS OF 448 KILOWATTS (600 HP),.
TANKS SUITABLE FOR LITRES USE WITH OUTBOARD ENGINES AND WITH A CAPACITY IN EXCESS OF 817
PLATING SUITABLE AND METAL
FOR RAMMING OR ACTING A9 ARMOURED PROTECTION.
"BOATS WITH THESE FEATURES ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE SORT OF SPEEDBOATS USED BY THE LEGITIMATE BOATING FRATERNITY.
"THE PURPOSE OF THIS NEW PROVISION IS TO PREVENT THE
BOATYARDS
IN HONG KONG FROM BUILDING AND
+
SMUGGLING, HE SAID.
MAINTAINING
SPEEDBOATS DESIGNED FOR
/MR ASPREY