THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978
SIR DENYS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE ADDITION OF A DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR THE LONDON OFFICE HAS BEEN RECENTLY APPROVED, +WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RELIEVING THE COMMISSIONER OF MUCH OF HIS OTHER WORK, SO THAT HE CAN CONCENTRATE HIS ENERGIES UPON THE PROMOTION OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING IN THE UK OF HONG KONG+.
ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO THESE COMMITTEES.
+ THE GOVERNMENT DOES CARRY OUT PERIODICAL EXAMINATIONS OF THE STRUCTURE, PURPOSE AND MEMBERSHIP OF THESE COMMITTEES, TO SEE WHETHER THEIR EXISTENCE IS JUSTIFIED OR THEIR JURISDICTION SHOULD BE CHANGED, HE SAID.
SIR DENYS ALSO EXPRESSED DOUBT ON THE PRACTICABILITY OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SUBSIDISED AND GENERALLY CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS PROPOSED BY THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG.
+THERE REMAINS ROOM FOR SCHEMES WHICH SUPPLEMENT THE MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, FOR THOSE WHO WANT THEM AND CAN AFFORD THEM. BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A PROPER USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SUCH SCHEMES TO BE SUBSIDISED OR ORGANISED, BY THE GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1978/79, SIR DENYS SAID THIS REDUCTION IS DUE TO A SHIFT IN CRIMINAL CASES FROM MAGISTRATES COURTS TO DISTRICT COURTS. IN PARTICULAR MANY MORE ROBBERY CASES ARE TRIED IN THE DISTRICT COURTS THAN PREVIOUSLY.
TO MEET THIS CHANGED PATTERN, POSTS FOR THREE MORE DISTRICT JUDGES HAVE BEEN CREATED WITH A REDUCTION OF THREE IN THE NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES.
ON THE COMPLAINTS THAT DELAYS AND INCONVENIENCE HAVE BEEN CAUSED TO WITNESSES AND DEFENDANTS AWAITING THE IR APPEARANCE IN COURTS, SIR DENYS ASSURED THAT THE JUDICIARY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT REASONABLY CAN TO REDUCE TO THE MINIMUM SUCH DELAYS AND INCONVENIENCE.
SIR DENYS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT PERHAPS AT THE START OF THE NEXT SESSION, THE EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM IN BILLS WOULD CONTAIN A PARAGRAPH INDICATING THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
ON THE SUGGESTION OF RELAXING IMMIGRATION LAWS TO ALLOW MORE FOREIGN WORKERS INTO HONG KONG TO ALLEVIATE MANPOWER SHORTAGE, SIR DENYS SAID SUCH RELAXATION WOULD POSE +GRAVE SOCIAL PROBLĒMS+.
+WE SHOULD ALSO BEAR CAREFULLY IN MIND THE FACT THAT, ONCE YOU HAVE IMPORTED SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF FOREIGN WORKERS, IT IS DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO GET RID OF THEM IF CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE AND YOU NO LONGER REQUIRE THEM, + SIR DENYS SAID.
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