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"At present, the courts do not have jurisdiction to order the sale of matrimonial property even where such sale is necessary for the property to be divided equitably between the spouses or ex-spouses in matrimonial proceedings," the spokesman added.
As regards provisions relating to the age of majority, the Government proposes that the court may make a maintenance order for a period up to a child's eighteenth birthday or extending beyond the child's eighteenth birthday if the child is, or will be, undergoing education or training or there are special circumstances.
In addition, the Bill will also rectify certain gender-biased provisions in the SMOO and MPPO so that either party to a marriage can apply for maintenance order on the same grounds under the two ordinances.
The Bill will be introduced to the Legislative Council on April 30 this year.
End
$320 million for RPIS projects in 97/98
The Government will spend $320 million on 257 Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (RPIS) Minor Works projects in 1997/98 to improve the infrastructure and living environment in rural areas, the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau said today (Thursday).
Speaking at a ceremony marking the completion of the $1.8 million Tan Chuk Hang Vehicular Bridge in Fanling, Mrs Lau said the Home Affairs Department (HAD) had introduced a two-tier administrative structure comprising the RPIS Minor Works Steering Committee and the nine NT District Working Groups to oversee and expedite the programme's implementation.
Describing the Tan Chuk Hang vehicular bridge project as an example of the successful implementation of the RPIS Minor Works project, Mrs Lau believed the project would benefit some 2,000 villagers living nearby by alleviating the risk of flooding.
Undertaken by the North District Office, the project included the construction of the bridge and a gabion retaining wall to reinforce the existing river banks.