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The standard scale, however, does not take account of inflation in respect of fines specified in money term before their conversion on to the scale. A review of existing fines is therefore necessary. I have reviewed the relevant Ordinances under my purview. Following discussions with the LegCo Sub-committee formed to study the then Resolution which was subsequently withdrawn, I now propose to revise the following thirty-eight items of statutory fines, with which the Subcommittee has agreed.
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22 items under the Immigration Ordinance, Cap 115 relating to requirement to carry proof of identity, unauthorised entrants, and other offences under the Ordinance.
1 item under the Immigration Service Ordinance, Cap 331 relating to making false reports to service personnel.
12 items under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, Cap 177 and Regulations relating to failing to register, using and possessing forged identity cards, altering an identity card.
3 items under the British Nationality (Misc. Provisions) Ordinance, Cap 186 relating to making false statement and disclosing information.
For fines at or below $100,000 after adjustment, they will be converted to the appropriate level of fines on the standard scale. There are 25 such items out of the 38.
For fines exceeding $100,000 after adjustment, they will be expressed in money terms. There are 13 such items and they all involve more serious offences such as employing a person not lawfully employable, failure to inspect proof of identity before employment, carrying illegal entrants on a ship, assisting illegal entrants to remain. The fine for employing a person not lawfully employable will be increased from $250,000 to $350,000.
In addition, there are 18 items in these ordinances for which we do not seek to adjust for inflation. However for consistency, these fines will be converted to the appropriate level on the standard scale. In other words, all fines at or below $100,000 will no longer be expressed in money terms. These eighteen items include:-
1 item under the Immigration Ordinance, Cap 115 relating to penalty on disposing of property to be forfeited.