XN000022-1980-01-18 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1980

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HE ADDED THERE WERE ALREADY CONSTRAINTS ON HUNTING UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE WHICH PROHIBITED HUNTING IN ALL COUNTRY PARKS, THE WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION ORDINANCE WHICH MADE IT AN OFFENCE TO SHOOT AT ANY WILD ANIMAL WITHIN 100 YARDS OF AN INHABITED HOUSE OR ROAD, AND THE SUMMARY OFFENCES WHICH PROHIBITED DISCHARGING A FIREARM WITHIN 200 YARDS OF A DWELLING OR ROAD.

THERE WERE ALSO CONSTRAINTS IN AREAS INCLUDED IN TOWN PLANNING LAYOUTS, AREAS WHICH ARE DEVELOPING HIGH RURAL POPULATION DENSITIES AND THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREAS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE WERE CURRENTLY ONLY ABOUT 414 GAME LICENCE HOLDERS, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO ACTUALLY WENT HUNTING WAS NOT HIGH.

THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED THAT GAME HUNTING SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. ANNUAL GAME LICENCES WOULD NO LONGER BE ISSUED OR RENEWED, AND THE USE OF SHOOTING ARMS WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO SPECIFIC LOCALITIES SUCH AS GUN CLUB PREMISES AND TO SUPERVISED HUNTING PARTIES THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

BANKING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 PUBLISHED

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THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WAS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE BILL ADDS A SHORT NEW SECTION TO THE BANKING ORDINANCE, TO EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO AMEND OR REVOKE A CONDITION_ALREADY ATTACHED TO A BANK LICENCE, OR TO ATTACH A NEW CONDITION TO A LICENCE.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL OPEN THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 30.

THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE MERELY PERMIT A CONDITION TO BE ATTACHED TO A LICENCE AT THE TIME WHEN THE LICENCE IS FIRST GRANTED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL: THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THAT CONDITION TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED OR REVOKED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THIS NEW POWER WAS NEEDED TO PERMIT THE CLARIFICATION OF A CONDITION ATTACHED TO 41 LICENCES GRANTED TO BANKS BETWEEN MARCH 1978 (WWHEN THE PREVIOUS LONG-STANDING MORATORIUM ON BANK LICENCES WAS EASED) AND AUGUST 1979 (WHEN THE GRANT OF FURTHER LICENCES WAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED).

THOSE LICENCES WERE SUBJECT TO THE CONDITION THAT THE BANKS CONCERNED WOULD CONDUCT BUSINESS FROM ONLY ONE OFFICE IN HONG KONG.

+ IT IS NOW APPARENT, SAID THE SPOKESMAN,

THAT THIS

CONDITION IS NOT ADEQUATELY WORDED IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRESENT SHORTAGE OF OFFICE SPACE, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL, WHEN BANKS ARE FINDING GREAT DIFFICULTY IN LOCATING ALL THEIR STAFF IN ONE BUILDING.+

THE CONDITION