XN000022-1976-03-25 — Page 18

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1976.

LAW ON THERAPEUTIC TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY MADE PERMANENT *****

THE GOVERNMENT, IN SEEKING TO MAKE THE LAW ON THERAPEUTIC TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY PERMANENT, BELIEVES IT IS DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY AT THE PRESENT TIME AND ALSO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WISHES OF THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON, STRESSED THIS TODAY IN THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE OFFENCES" AGA INST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

HE ASSURED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT ALL REPRESENTATIONS WHICH MIGHT BE MADE CONCERNING THIS +DEEPLY FELT AND IMPORTANT ISSUE+ WOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.

HE DISAGREED WITH DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG'S ARGUMENT THAT SECTION 47A OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE+LEGALISES ABORTION GENERALLY+, +IT IS A LONG STEP FROM THE PRESENT PROVISIONS OF OUR LAW TO THAT POSITION,+ HE ADDED.

EARLIER, THE HON. ROGER LOBO WHO WAS OPPOSED TO THE MOTION SAID HE, LIKE DR. FANG, WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO SERIOUSLY. RECONSIDER THE INTENTION OF MAKING THIS SECTION A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE HONG KONG LAW.

HE SAID DR. FANG HAD DRAWN ATTENTION TO CERTAIN LOOPHOLES IN SECTION 47A WHICH I FEEL OUGHT TO BE PLUGGED BEFORE WE OPT FOR PERMANENCY.+

HE URGED THE COUNCIL TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND EXTEND THE TRIAL PERIOD OF THE LEGISLATION FOR A FURTHER TWO YEARS TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE WHOLE QUESTION OF ABORTION IN THE CONTEXT OF HONG KONG.

+IN THE COURSE OF THIS EXAMINATION WE COULD AND, INDEED, SHOULD TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT THE EXTENT TO WHICH SOCIAL PROBLEMS HAVE GIVEN RISE TO THE CALL FOR LEGAL ABORTION, WITH A VIEW TO SEEKING MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS,+ HE ADDED.'

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. HE REFERRED TO A STATEMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO REVIEW LATER ON THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL, AND WOULD BE PREPARED TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS ADVOCATING MODIFICATIONS TO THE DILL.

+I EXPECT THAT SUCH REPRESENTATIONS WILL COVER A WIDE SPECTRUM OF PUBLIC OPINION, RANGING FROM A DEMAND FOR MORE LIBERALISATION TO MORE RIGID CONTROL OF THE ABORTION PROVISIONS,+ MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID.

mukeshwar.

/IN THE *****