XN000022-1979-07-04 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1979

+THE BURDEN OF PROVING THESE THREE GROUNDS OR ONE OF THEM RESTS ON THE CREDITOR: UNLESS HE SUCCEEDS IN DOING THAT, THE DEBTOR MUST BE DISCHARGED AND ONCE HAS BEEN DISCHARGED HE CAN NOT BE RE-ARRANGED FOR THE SAME DEBT,+ MR. GRIFFITHS EXPLAINED.

+1 VENTURE TO SUGGEST, DESPITE MY SHORT EXPERIENCE SO FAR IN HONG KONG, THAT MOST PEOPLE HERE WOULD REGARD THESE PROVISIONS AS FAIR. WHY SHOULD A MAN NOT BE IMPRISONED FOR A COMPARATIVELY SHORT PERIOD IF, BUT ONLY IF, IT CAN BE PROVED THAT HE HAS FINANCED HIS OWN UNJUSTIFIABLE EXTRAVAGANCE IN LIVING, THROUGH HIS CREDITORS, OR ALTERNATIVELY IF IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT HE HAS DELIBERATELY OR FRAUDULENTLY ATTEMPTED TO HIDE HIS MONEY FROM THEM WHEN PERFECTLY WELL HE COULD PAY?+

+MANY WOULD ARGUE THAT WERE IT NOT FOR THE THREAT OF IMPRISONMENT, FAR MORE PEOPLE THAN DO SO AT PRESENT WOULD SEEK TO AVOID THEIR JUST DEBTS BY HIDING THEIR ASSETS OUT OF THE REACH OF THEIR CREDITORS.+

ID CARD BILL PASSED *****

THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO AUTHORISE THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY CARRYING AND PRODUCTION OF IDENTITY CARDS WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE DEBATE ON THE BILL BEFORE IT WAS PASSED, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID HE HAD PROPOSED THAT THE BILL SHOULD PROCEED THROUGH ALL ITS STAGES AT ONE SITTING BECAUSE THE AMENDMENTS WERE REQUIRED URGENTLY TO IMPROVE THE GOVERNMENT'S CAPACITY TO 'DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.

MR. DAVIES NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ENTERING HONG KONG FROM CHINA THIS YEAR BY THE END OF JUNE 45,943 HAD BEEN APPREHENDED.

+ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS ARRESTED HAVE FALLEN SHARPLY RECENTLY IT REMAINS AS EVER TO PURSUE OUR POLICY TO PREVENT AND DETER ILLEGAL ENTRY,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.

*THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED IN THIS BILL WILL AUTHORISE THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS PROVIDING THAT PERSONS MUST CARRY THEIR IDENTITY CARDS WHEN VISITING DESIGNATED AREAS.

+THIS PROVISION WILL BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THE SECURITY FORCES IN HELPING TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED HONG KONG ILLEGALLY, HE ADDED.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT INTEND TO DESIGNATE LARGE AREAS OF POPULATION AS PLACES IN WHICH PERSONS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CARRY THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.

/+THERE ARE,