XN000022-1978-07-14 — Page 13

FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1978

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PREVENTION OF BRIEERY (AMENDMENT) BILL

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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO FACILITATE PROOF OF OFFICIAL EMOLUMENTS OF A PUBLIC SERVANT CHARGED UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY (AMENDMENT) EILL 1978, IF ENACTED, WILL ENABLE OFFICIAL EMOLUMENTS PAID TO A CIVIL SERVANT TO BE PROVED BY THE PRODUCTION OF A CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY.

SUCH A CERTIFICATE COULD ALSO RELATE TO THE CIVIL SERVANT'S LENGTH OF SERVICE AND POSTS DURING HIS CAREER IN GOVERNMENT.

EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE AMENDING LEGISLATION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID SECTION 10 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE MAKES IT AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON WHO IS, CR HAS BEEN A CIVIL SERVANT, TO MAINTAIN A STANDARD OF LIVING NOT COMMENSURATE WITH, OR POSSESS PROPERTY DISPROPORTIONATE TO, HIS OFFICIAL EMOLUMENTS.

+BUT IN MOST SECTION 10 CASES, THE ACCUSED HAS BEEN A CIVIL SERVANT FOR VERY MANY YEARS AND, NOT INFREQUENTLY, IN THE EARLY PART OF HIS SERVICE HIS EMOLUMENTS WERE PAID IN CASH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE ADDED, IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE PROSECUTION TO CALL ́A WITNESS TO TESTIFY, FROM THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE, AS TO THE AMOUNT OF OFFICIAL EMOLUMENTS RECEIVED BY THE ACCUSED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF HIS GOVERNMENT SERVICE TO THE DATE OF THE CHARGE, AS REQUIRED BY THE LAW OF EVIDENCE.

WITH THE AMENDMENT BILL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ANY COURT WOULD BE BOUND TO ACCEPT AS TRUE ANY FACTS STATED IN A CERTIFICATE UNLESS THE DEFENCE COULD PROVE TO THE CONTRARY.

IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR

RETIRED GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE OPERATOR

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GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE OPERATOR WHO RETIRED IN MAY THIS YEAR AFTER 30 YEARS SERVICE, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL BY THE QUEEN.

HE 13 MR. CHAN WING-SAM AGED 57.

MR. CHAN JOINED THE GOVERNMENT AS A TELEPHONE OPERATOR IN 1948. HE WORKED IN THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE TO WORK AS TELEPHONE OPERATOR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT.

MR. CHAN WAS ALSO A CONSTABLE IN THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE FOR 20 YEARS. HE PETIRED FROM THE FORCE TWO YEARS AGO.

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