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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994
ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL INTRODUCED.
THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO. 2) BILL WHICH EMPOWERS THE REGISTRATION OFFICER TO OMIT THE NAMES OF REGISTERED ELECTORS FROM THE VOTER REGISTER WAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
INTO THE
FOR
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR NICHOLAS NG, SAID THE AMENDMENTS DID NOT INVOLVE ANY POLICY CHANGE BUT WERE ONLY TO PUT BEYOND DOUBT A LEGAL POINT.
HE SAID THE BILL GAVE THE REGISTRATION OFFICER A PROPER BASIS TO OMIT, WHEN COMPILING A NEW VOTER REGISTER FOR THE REGISTERED ELECTORS WHOSE NAMES APPEARED ON THE EXISTING REGISTER UNDER TWO CIRCUMSTANCES.
LEGAL
YEAR, VOTER
NAMES OF THE REGISTERED ELECTORS CAN BE OMITTED WHEN THE REGISTRATION OFFICER HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THESE ELECTORS HAVE CRASED TO ORDINARILY RESIDE IN HONG KONG OR HAVE CHANGED THEIR PRINCIPAL PLACES OF RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
MR NG SAID THE ACCURACY OF THE VOTER REGISTER WOULD BE GREATLY AFFECTED IF THE REGISTRATION OFFICER DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY то OMIT REGISTERED VOTERS.
IT WOULD ALSO UNDERMINE THE WHOLE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS, MR NG ADDED.
"IT WILL, OF COURSE, BE OPEN TO ANY ELECTOR SO OMITTED FROM THE REGISTER TO APPLY FOR RE-REGISTRATION PROVIDED HE HAS RESUMED ORDINARY RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG OR IS ABLE TO PROVIDE A NEW RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, HE SAID.
MR NO ALSO URGED LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS TO GIVE THIS BILL AN EARLY AND FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT SCHEDULE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
BILL TO MEET NEW STANDARDS AGAINST DRUG DEALING
A BILL SEEKING TO MEET THE NEW INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE 1988 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES (CONTROL) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR KEN WOODHOUSE, SAID THE BILL ALSO PROPOSED ΤΟ REPEAL A PRESUMPTION RELATING TO POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS DRUG WHICH WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
/"IT SEEKS