XN000022-1972-08-11 — Page 1

P.R.H. 7 (REVISED) 4000001

DAILY

INFORMATION

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

SERVICES BULLETIN

Friday, August 11, 1972

NEW POWERS TO BRING LITTER OFFENDERS TO COURT

New powers requiring the prompt appearance of litter offenders

in court are contained in an amending bill which will be introduced in

the Legislative Council shortly.

The Magistrates (Amendment) Bill 1972 proposes to replace the

normal summons process with the service of an "on-the-spot" notice

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requiring litter offenders to appear before the courts.

A government spokesman said that during the "Keep Hong Kong Clean"

campaign it was anticipated that large numbers of people may be brought

before the courts to answer for offences against the anti-litter lawe.

At present, under the Magistrates Ordinance, an offender's

appearance in court is secured by serving on him a summons issued by

a magistrate.

Under this procedure, a great deal of time is often taken up

in effecting notice of the summons, and frequently there is a considerable

gap between the commission of the offence, and the offender's appearance

in court.

"It is considered that this procedure is unsatisfactory and that

a quicker means of bringing an offender before the court is desirable if

the campaign is to be successful," the spokesman said.

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