XN000022-1973-06-20 — Page 13

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Wednesday, June 20, 1973

DISTRICT JUDGES GET INCREASED SENTENCING POWERS

Three pieces of legislation which give added weight to the government's

determination to crack down on violent crime were passed by the Legislative

Council today.

The three bills are the District Court (Amendment) Bill 1973, the

Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 1973 and the Public Order (Amendment) Bill

1973.

The first bill gives increased sentencing powers to District Judges,

the second provides for a new type of sentence to isolate habitual criminals

from society, and the third strengthens the existing legislation dealing with

possession of offensive weapons in public places.

In supporting the bills, the senior Unofficial Member, the Hon.

P.C. Woo, said that members of a committee set up by the Bar Association had

made certain representations to the unofficial members against the provisions

of the original four bills.

He said the committee explained why it was in doubt as to the wisdom

of interfering with the existing limitations of jurisdiction in the district

courts and the magistracies.

"We appreciate the reasons for these views and have given them careful

consideration, The Unofficials conclude that the change of jurisdiction proposed

in the District Court represents the most effective and immediately practicable

way of speeding up the disposition of the backlog of cases now facing the

Supreme Court," Mr. Woo said.

He said