XN000022-1980-04-17 — Page 8

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1980

OATHS AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT OF A JUDICIAL OFFICER TO TAKE THE OATH AGAIN WHEN HE IS APPOINTED TO ANOTHER JUDICIAL OFFICE.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE OATHS AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH SAID THAT UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, SUPREME COURT JUDGES, DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, MAGISTRATES AND OTHER JUDICIAL OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE JUDICIAL OATH ON FIRST APPOINTMENT AND THEN AGAIN IF THEY ARE APPOINTED TO ANOTHER JUDICIAL OFFICE WHETHER IN A SUBSTANTIVE OR ACTING CAPACITY.

+THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS COMMENTED THAT TIME IS WASTED IN RE-SWEARING JUDICIAL OFFICERS, MR NAZARETH SAID.

MR NAZARETH SAID THE LIST OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE OATHS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PRESIDENT OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL AND CORONERS.

+SINCE CORONERS HAVE SO FAR ALL BEEN MAGISTRATES, THEY HAVE TAKEN THE OATHS IN QUESTION IN THE LATTER CAPACITY, MR NAZARETH SAID.

+BUT AGAINST THE DAY WHEN WE MAY HAVE CORONERS WHO ARE NOT MAGISTRATES, THE LIST SHOULD INCLUDE CORONERS, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE SURVEY ***

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS CONDUCTING A SURVEY TO COLLECT UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS

IN 1979.

RESULTS OF THE SURVEY WILL BE ANALYSED AND COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE 1977 SURVEY. INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR IN DECISION MAKING, TRADE PROMOTION AND MARKET ANALYSIS. IN ADDITION THE RESULTS WILL BE USED TO UP-DATE THE ESTIMATE OF THE SECTOR'S CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.

J

INFORMATION SOUGHT INCLUDES TYPES OF OWNERSHIP, EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION, OPERATING EXPENSES, PURCHASES, SALES AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

QUESTIONNAIKES