XN000022-1975-02-05 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1975

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HE EMPHASISED THAT NOTHING HAD HAPPENED UNTIL VERY RECENTLY TO MAKE ANY INSIDER TRADING WORTHWHILE BY THOSE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ITS AFFAIRS, AND HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN FACT, UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, THE COMPANY WAS STILL PLANNING TO MAKE DIVIDEND PAYMENTS TOTALLING SOME

$48 MILLION IN 1975.

+I SHOULD PERHAPS ADD,+ HE SAID, THAT THE SUSPENSION OF DEALINGS IN THE SHARES OF ANY COMPANY PUTS THE SHAREHOLDERS AT A SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE THEY ARE LOCKED IN AND CANNOT REALISE THEIR MONEY.

+FOR THIS REASON, SUSPENSION OF TRADING IS A SERIOUS MATTER WHICH SHOULD ONLY BE INVOKED AS A LAST RESORT.+

PROVISIONS FOR REVIEWING COURT SENTENCES TO BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND FOR A FURTHER THREE YEARS THE PROVISIONS FOR THE REVIEWING OF ANY SENTENCE PASSED BY ANY COURT UNDER THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE.

THESE PROVISIONS, WHICH ENABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEEK A REVIEW OF THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY A COURT ON A CONVICTED PERSON, HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR THREE YEARS AND ARE DUE TO EXPIRE ON APRIL 30 THIS YEAR.

WHEN MOVING THE RESOLUTION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, POINTED OUT THAT THE PROVISIONS HAD SERVED THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WERE INTENDED.

HE ADDED THAT THE PROPOSED EXTENSION HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE JUDICIARY.

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