TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1992
THESE PROPOSALS REPRESENT AN EXTENSION OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE ORIGINAL WHITE BILL IN THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO THE PROCEEDS OF SPECIFIED OFFENCES.
CURRENTLY, A
ANOTHER CHANGE RELATES TO ACCOMPLICE EVIDENCE. JUDGE IS REQUIRED ΤΟ WARN THE JURY OR HIMSELF OF THE DANGER OF CONVICTING ON THE EVIDENCE OF AN ACCOMPLICE WITHOUT CORROBORATION. THE WARNING IS TECHNICAL, COMPLEX AND INFLEXIBLE.
UNDER THE NEW BILL, THE REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH A CORROBORATING WARNING IN RESPECT OF THE EVIDENCE OF ACCOMPLICES IS ABOLISHED.
WITH
JUDGES WILL BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR DISCRETION TO DEAL THE CREDIBILITY OF ACCOMPLICE WITNESSES IN THE SAME MANNER AS THEY DEAL WITH CREDIBILITY GENERALLY.
THERE WILL BE NO SPECIAL RULES, BUT SIMPLY A REQUIREMENT JUSTICE BE SEEN TO BE DONE.
THAT
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES THAT WHERE A PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF
A SCHEDULED OFFENCE UNDER THE ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIMES BILL, THE PROSECUTION WOULD BE ENTITLED TO PROVIDE THE COURT WITH INFORMATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE OFFENCE TO ORGANISED CRIME
OR TRIADS, ITS IMPACT ON VICTIMS AND ITS FINANCIAL BENEFITS.
AT PRESENT, THE PROSECUTION IS NOT ABLE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COURT THIS KIND OF INFORMATION WITHOUT THE INVITATION OF THE COURT. THIS LIMITATION HAD RESTRICTED THE COURT'S ABILITY IMPOSE A HEAVIER SENTENCE WHERE IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE.
TO
THE TWO BILLS WILL BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (JULY 10) AND WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 15.
HK AND YAUMATI FERRY FARES REVISED
THE
EFFECT
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED FARE INCREASES WITH FROM JULY 20 FOR THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY (HYF) SERVICES ON ACCOUNT OF RISING COSTS AND FALLING PATRONAGE.
THE AVERAGE INCREASE OF 16 PER CENT IS THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS LOWER THAN THE 19 PER CENT RISE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) SINCE HYF LAST REVISED ITS FARES 20 MONTHS AGO IN NOVEMBER 1990.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE INCREASE WOULD HAVE MINIMAL EFFECT ON INFLATION. IT IS ESTIMATED TO RESULT IN AN INCREASE
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) BY 0.011 PER CENT.
IN
THE EFFECTS OF THE NEW FARE SCALE ON PASSENGERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
* 66.1 PER CENT OF PASSENGERS, INCLUDING MONTHLY TICKET HOLDERS AND USERS OF THE INNER HARBOUR SERVICES, WOULD PAY 20 CENTS TO 50 CENTS MORE PER TRIP:
/* 4.9 PER CENT