. 18.
There is no comprehensive study on the causes of defendants who choose to abscond. The most likely reasons are that they want to avoid attending court for trial and to avoid, or at least delay, facing the penalty if convicted by the court.
The Police and other law enforcement agencies have been diligent in tracking down absconders. The figures on the number of persons who jumped court bail and were eventually arrested and sentenced are 962 for the year ending 30 June, 1993 and 1,548 for the year ending 30 June, 1994. The detection rate is higher than 70%. The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, which was passed by this Council and enacted in June last year, makes it a criminal offence for a person to abscond after being released on bail. If convicted, the offender is liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $75,000 and to imprisonment for a maximum period of 6 months, and on conviction upon indictment to a fine of any amount and to imprisonment for a maximum period of 12 months. The new provisions will soon take effect when the rules of court are finalised by the Judiciary and passed by this Council. They will provide a good deterrence against potential absconders.
End/Wednesday, May 10, 1995
Implementation of the Joint Declaration
Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a reply by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Nicholas Ng, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In his speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club earlier this year, the Governor said, "Each day as 1997 comes closer, individuals and businesses quite naturally are looking not to Britain, not to the Governor of Hong Kong but to China, as the future sovereign, to provide reassurances, and indeed concrete evidence that the principles enshrined in the Joint Declaration will be upheld and implemented in the future." This view was repeated by the Foreign Secretary during a House of Commons debate on 27 April 1995. In this connection will the Administration inform this Council whether -