FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1980
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO PROCEED WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY FOR AIDED SCHOOLS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC BODIES OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE.
+FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, IT WAS FELT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPRACTICAL TO ADD THE NAMES OF SOME 900 SCHOOLS TO THE SCHEDULE, IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERED THAT THE TYPE OF CORRUPTION WHICH COULD ARISE IN AIDED SCHOOLS COULD BE DEALT WITH UNDER EXISTING PROVISIONS AS WELL AS CURRENT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
AMENDMENTS TO PREVENTION OF BRIBERY BILL PROPOSED ****
FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO HONG KONG'S ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS WILL BE MOVED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (JUNE 25).
THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE THE RESULT OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY SEVERAL COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL INCLUDE A NEW PROVISION ALLOWING FOR COMPENSATION TO BE PAID IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO SUSPECTS PREVENTED FROM DISPOSING OF THEIR PROPERTY.
THE PROVISION WOULD APPLY IF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION REFUSED TO GIVE HIS CONSENT FOR PROPERTY TO BE RELEASED AND IT TRANSPARED THAT THE PERSON UNDER INVESTIGATION WAS NOT CHARGED WITH AN OFFENCE OR WAS ACQUITTED.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE SUSPECT WOULD BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR ANY LOSS SUSTAINED IF HE WAS UNABLE TO MEET ANY CONTRACTUAL LIABILITY INCURRED BEFORE THE RESTRAINING NOTICE WAS SERVED.
THE NEW PROPOSALS WOULD ALSO ALTER SOME PROVISIONS OF THE BILL RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE ICAC, ONE OF WHICH WAS TO EMPOWER ICAC OFFICERS TO DETAIN ANY PERSON FOUND ON PREMISES UNDERGOING AUTHORISED SEARCHES. IT IS NOW PROPOSED THAT A PERSON SHOULD NOT BE DETAINED FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS UNLESS HE IS ARRESTED.
THE BILL ALSO REQUIRED SUSPECTS TO SUPPLY TO THE ICAC INFORMATION TO WHICH THEY HAVE ACCESS, RATHER THAN JUST IN THE IR POSSESSION. A NEW PROPOSAL CHANGES THE REQUIREMENT TO COVER INFORMATION TO WHICH A SUSPECT MAY REASONABLY HAVE ACCESS AND TO EXCLUDE INFORMATION WHICH IS READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
MEMBERS OF UMELCO HAVE ALSO PROPOSED CHANGES TO PROVISIONS OF THE BILL GOVERNING THE RE-EMPLOYMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION OFFENCES.
THE ORIGINAL
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