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"In this connection, the authorities also propose to scrap the present fine level of $10,000 for the display of signs advertising prostitution and raise the maximum imprisonment term from six to 12 months," he added.
The spokesman said that the proposals were made following a review of the legislation relating to sexual assaults and the procedures adopted by departments concerned in handling such cases.
Apart from proposing stiffer penalties, the spokesman stressed that better sex education was also important in preventing sex crimes.
"Among other things, we have launched a publicity campaign on the prevention of child sexual abuse, and are reviewing Guidelines on Sex Education in Schools and developing sex education kits for parents," he said.
"We have also improved the procedures for supporting victims of sex crimes.
"These include more extensive use of video-recorded interviews with children involved in sexual abuse cases and legislative changes to allow the Courts to accept video-recorded statements made by vulnerable witnesses and to use live television link in cross-examining these witnesses," the spokesman added.
The Bill is expected to be introduced into the Legislative Council on March 5
this year.
End
Proposal to ensure safety of asbestos workers
The Legislative Council today (Wednesday) passed a motion on the Government's proposal to introduce a new regulation to ensure the safety and health of workers engaged in asbestos work.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Regulation, to be gazetted on Friday (February 28), will replace the existing Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Special Regulations 1986.
A spokesman for the Education and Manpower Branch said that the existing Regulations did not aim to tackle the risks at source as they relied on exhaust ventilation as the primary measure to control exposure of workers to asbestos and accepted the use of respiratory protective equipment as an alternative.