XN000022-1977-01-05 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1977

PRESENT CONTROL ON SPITTING ADEQUATE

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MORE THAN 12,000 CONVICTIONS WERE RECORDED FOR SPITTING IN PUBLIC PLACES SINCE THE START OF THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN IN 1972, THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING, HE SAID THAT FROM NOVEMBER 1972 TO THE END OF LAST OCTOBER THERE WERE 990 CONVICTIONS FOR THIS OFFENCE UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE. AND UP TO THE END OF LAST NOVEMBER THERE WERE 11,176 CONVICTIONS FOR THE SAME OFFENCE UNDER THE PUBLIC CLEANSING AND PREVENTION OF NUISANCES BY-LAWS,

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION, SIR DENYS SAID THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THE PRESENT CONTROL ON SPITTING ADEQUATE,

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY UNDER THE ORDINANCE WAS A FINE OF $500 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS AND UNDER THE BY-LAWS WAS $1,000 ON FIRST CONVICTION AND $2,000 FOR A SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION.

BILLS PASSED

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TWO BILLS PASSED THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY WERE THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 AND THE EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977.

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