XN000022-1975-11-05 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1975

SHALL CLATES TRIBUNAT, XXXXXX

THE PROPOSED SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL TO HEAR MONETARY CLAIMS OF NOT MORE THAN $3,000 IS TO BE SET UP FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, IF A SUGGESTION BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG IS ACCEPTED.

MR. CHEUNG GAVE NOTICE AT TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THAT HE WOULD TADLE THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES, AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL BILL.

MR. CHEUNG TOLD COUNCIL THAT IT WOULD BE WISE TO LIMIT THE LIFE OF THE TRIBUNAL UNTIL IT HAD PROVED SUCCESSFUL, IN WHICH CASE ITS LIFE COULD BE EXTENDED.

HE PERSONALLY REGRETTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD FOUND IT NECESSARY TO CREATE THIS TRIBUNAL, AND HE FELT REASSURED THAT NO FURTHER COURTS OF THIS NATURE WOULD BE CREATED.

ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, SUPPORTED THE PROPOSED TRIBUNAL AND SAID IT WOULD ENABLE THOSE WHO DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH TO BRING CLAIMS DEFORE IT WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY.

HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT PUBLIC REACTION TO THE TRIBUNAL MUST BE CAREFULLY WATCHED AS IT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE TRIBUNAL COULD EASILY DECOME ANOTHER TOOL FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND BUSINESS COMPANIES TO EXTRACT EVERY CENT DUE FROM THE LOWER INCOME SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.

+HOPEFULLY, HE ADDED, RECOGNISED AS BEING FOR THE AND NOT TO BE THOUGHT OF AS THE SMALL MAN. +

THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL SHOULD DE DENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, BEING USED PREDOMINANTLY TO OPPRESS

MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO HOPED THAT THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES WOULD ASSIST MULTI-STOREY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES TO USE THE TRIBUNAL TO ENFORCE REASONABLE DISCIPLINE AND CO-OPERATION IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL RESIDENTS.

HE ADDED: +1 WOULD EVEN GO FURTHER DY SAYING THAT WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL THE CDO'S SHOULD NOW REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS TO HAVE ALL LARGE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE LITTLE OR NO MANAGEMENT TO SET UP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES WITH THE LEAST POSSIBLE DELAY.+

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