XN000022-1975-04-23 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1975

UNIFORM FINES FOR DISCIPLINARY SERVICES SOUGHT

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STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PROVIDE UNIFORMITY IN THE AMOUNT OF MAXIMUM FINES WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED ON MEMBERS OF THE FIRE SERVICES, THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND THE PRISONS SERVICE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. L.M. DAVIES, SAID TODAY.

LEGISLATION COVERING THE DISCIPLINARY CODES OF THE PREVENTIVE AND PRISONS SERVICES WAS BEING EXAMINED, HE SAID, AND THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS WOULD BE INTRODUCED SHORTLY.

MR. DAVIES WAS WINDING UP THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE FIRE SERVICE (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH, APART FROM PROVIDING TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTIONS OF A FIRE ABATEMENT ORDER, RAISES THE MAXIMUM FINE THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES MAY LEVÝ ON A MEMBER OF THE SERVICES FROM $50 TO ONE MONTH'S SALARY (EXCLUDING ALLOWANCES).

MR. DAVIES STRESSED THAT THE NEW MAXIMUM PENALTY WAS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO GIVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE

IN SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT. THE FACT THAT A MAXIMUM FINE WAS DESCRIBED BY LAW DID NOT MEAN THAT THE MAXIMUM WOULD BE IMPOSED REGULARLY OR AS A MATTER OF COURSE,

+THE PROVISION SHOULD BE REGARDED AS MUCH AS A DETERRENT

AS A MEANS OF PUNISHMENT,+ HE ADDED.

+ALTHOUGH IT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF THE MAXIMUM FINE SUBSTANTIALLY THE NEW CEILING IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A REAL ALTERNATIVE TO MORE SEVERE FORMS OF PUNISHMENT, INCLUDING DISMISSAL.

+TO THIS EXTENT, IT COULD BE SAID THAT THE AMENDED ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDE THE SERVICE WITH A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS DISCIPLINARY CODE THAN EXISTED BEFORE, HE SAID.

EARLIER, THE HON. LEE QUO-WEI URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO THE LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN THE DIFFERENT DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS, AND SOUGHT AN ASSURANCE THAT THE MAXIMUM FINE WOULD ONLY BE APPLIED IN THE MOST SERIOUS CASES.

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