XN000022-1979-07-06 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1979

A REGISTERED CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE MAY ONLY BE DISSOLVED BY MUTUAL CONSENT, WHEREAS A REGISTERED MODERN MARRIAGE CAN BE DISSOLVED EITHER BY MUTUAL CONSENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES OR BY APPLYING TO THE COURT FOR A DIVORCE ON THE GROUNDS OF ADULTERY, DESERTION FOR TWO YEARS OR LIVING APART FOR FIVE YEARS.

EXPLAINING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, +A PROVISION IN THE AMENDMENT WILL ENABLE REGISTERED CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES TO BE DISSOLVED IN THE SAME WAY AS REGISTERED MODERN MARRIAGES NAMELY, EITHER BY MUTUAL CONSENTS OR BY TAKING DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS THROUGH THE COURT.+

THE PROPOSED MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 WILL APPLY TO REGISTERED MODERN OR CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES AND IS DESIGNED TO RESTRICT A FORMER HUSBAND FROM APPLYING FOR MAINTENANCE WHERE THE AMOUNT OF THE MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY FIXED IN THE DIVORCE AGREEMENT TERMINATING THE MARRIAGE, IN THE SAME WAY AS FORMER WIFE IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTED.

THE PROPOSED MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS AND PROPERTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 WILL ENABLE A COURT HEARING MATRIMONIAL PETITIONS TO REVOKE AN EXISTING MAINTENANCE ORDER MADE BY ANOTHER COURT. SO THAT THE PARTIES WILL NOT BE COMPELLED TO GO BACK TO THAT OTHER COURT AND APPLY FOR THE ORDER TO BE REVOKED.

AMENDMENTS TO FIXED PENALTY PARKING ORDINANCE

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THE AMENDMENTS TO THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTION) ORDINANCE WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE AMENDMENTS SIMPLIFY REGULATIONS CONCERNING ILLEGAL OBSTRUCTION AND PARKING WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CONTRAVENTIONS FROM 13 TO 12 FOR WHICH FIXED PENALTY TICKETS MAY BE GIVEN.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID BOTH THE MOTORING PUBLIC IN GENERAL AND OPERATORS OF LARGE VEHICLES IN PARTICULAR WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE REVISED LAWS DESIGNED TO RECOGNISE THE ACUTE PARKING NEEDS IN HONG KONG.

+UNDER THE NEW PROVISIONS LARGE VEHICLES, SUCH AS GOODS VEHICLES AND TOURIST BUSES, MAY NOW OCCUPY MORE THAN ONE SPACE WHEN THEY STOP AT OFFICIAL ON-STREET PARKING PLACES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

OWEVER, WHERE SPACES ARE CONTROLLED BY PARKING METERS, THE USE OF EACH METERED SPACE MUST BE PAID, HE EMPHASISE”.