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FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1993
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAD ALSO TAKEN UP THE POINTS MENTIONED BY MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER IN HIS REPORT THAT THE LAW HERE HAD NO EQUIVALENT TO SECTION 23(1) AND (3) (B) OF THE ENGLISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1988 WHICH PERMITTED THE ADMISSION IN EVIDENCE OF THE WRITTEN STATEMENT OF A WITNESS MADE TO POLICE OFFICER OR EQUIVALENT OFFICER WHO FAILED TO GIVE ORAL TESTIMONY BECAUSE OF FEAR.
MR MATHEWS CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAD WRITTEN TO THE DIRECTORS OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS IN ENGLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND ASKING FOR DETAILS OF THEIR PRACTICES IN THIS FIELD.
LASTLY, MR MATHEWS SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE IMPORTANT REPORT PRODUCED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING A NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME WOULD GREATLY ASSIST MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WOULD ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT INTO PLACE ARRANGEMENTS THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE PROTECTING WITNESSES.
IN
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS (ADJOURNMENT DURING GALE WARNINGS) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1993 GAZETTED
* * *
THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS (ADJOURNMENT DURING GALE WARNINGS) ORDINANCE HAS BEEN AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS WHEN A 'RED' OR 'BLACK' RAINSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED.
UNDER THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS (ADJOURNMENT DURING GALE WARNINGS) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1993 WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION TODAY (FRIDAY), THE EXISTING STATUTORY PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE ADJOURNMENT AND SUBSEQUENT RESUMPTION OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS DURING A GALE WARNING WILL ALSO APPLY IN THE EVENT OF A 'RED' OR 'BLACK' RAINSTORM WARNING.
A JUDICIARY SPOKESMAN SAID THE JUDICIARY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD TO COME ΤΟ COURT OR BE BROUGHT то COURT DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS.
"ACCORDINGLY, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS SHOULD BE ADJOURNED WHERE THERE IS A 'RED' OR 'BLACK' RAINSTORM WARNING AS IN THE EVENT OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNAL NO. 8 9 OR
+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE JUDICIARY WOULD KEEP SUCH ARRANGEMENTS REVIEW IN THE LIGHT OF ACTUAL OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
10,"
*
UNDER
THE COLOUR-CODED RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM, OPERATED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY SINCE LAST SUMMER, IS INTENDED TO GIVE WARNINGS HEAVY RAINSTORM WHICH MAY AFFECT OR ARE AFFECTING HONG KONG.
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