XN000022-1980-05-14 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1980

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THREE SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS WILL BEGIN OPERATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO SERVE SCHOOL CHILDREN BY 1985, IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE IN THE 1974 WHITE PAPER ON DENTAL DEVELOPMENT.

UNDER THIS SCHEME, THE FIRST SCHOOL CLINIC FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WAS OPENED LAST NOVEMBER ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

ANOTHER MEASURE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN TO IMPROVE DENTAL SERVICE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DENTAL TEACHING HOSPITAL TO TRAIN QUALIFIED DENTISTS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, DR THONG SAID.

CONSTRUCTION OF THIS DENTAL TEACHING HOSPITAL IS ALMOST COMPLETED, AND THE FIRST BATCH OF 60 GRADUATED DENTISTS WILL BEGIN SERVING THE PUBLIC BY 1985, HE SAID.

POWER TO RELEASE PREMISES HELD UNDER FIRE INVESTIGATION REDEFINED *****

THE FIRE INVESTIGATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, WHICH EMPOWERS A MAGISTRATE IN ALL APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES TO ORDER THE RELEASE OF PREMISES HELD UNDER FIRE INVESTIGATION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY. THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID THAT UNDER THE MAIN ORDINANCE. THE MAGISTRATE COULD CARRY OUT AN INQUIRY ON A FIRE INVESTIGATION AND ON CONCLUSION OF THE INQUIRY, MIGHT ORDER THE PREMISES TO BE RELEASED FROM POLICE POSSESSION IF NO OFFENCE WAS DISCLOSED, OR IF THERE WAS NO SUSPECT.

MR DAVIES POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT IN A CASE LAST YEAR, THE POLICE TOOK POSSESSION OF CERTAIN PREMISES AND THE RESULTING INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED AN OFFENCE OF ARSON AND A PERSON WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED.

AN APPLICATION WAS THEN MADE FOR RELEASE OF THE PREMISES BUT THE MAGISTRATE HELD THAT THE EXISTING LAW DID NOT EMPOWER HIM TO RELEASE PREMISES WHEN AN OFFENCE HAD BEEN DISCLOSED AND A PERSON CHARGED.

+OBVIOUSLY MAGISTRATES SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO ORDER THE RELEASE OF PREMISES IN ALL APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENQUIRY IS CARRIED OUT, AND WHETHER OR NOT ANY PERSON IS CHARGED WITH AN OFFENCE. THE BILL IF ENACTED WILL PROVIDE ACCORDINGLY, MR DAVIES SAID,

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED,

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