XN000022-1980-06-25 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980

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FAKE DRUG TRAFFICKING AN OFFENCE

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MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION COULD BE TAKEN AGAINST PEOPLE WHO TRAFFIC IN FAKE DANGEROUS DRUGS IF A BILL TO AMEND THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE IS PASSED.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID OWING TO THE SHORTAGE OF ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLIES LAST YEAR, THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS CASES OF ATTEMPTED SALES OF NARCOTICS WHERE EITHER THE DRUGS WERE NOT IN EXISTENCE OR WERE FAKE POWDERS PURPORTING TO BE DANGEROUS DRUGS.

+IN 1979, 338 CASES OF COUNTERFEIT HEROIN, REPRESENTING ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF ALL HEROIN SEIZURE CASES MADE DURING THE YEAR, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES PURPORTING TO BE DANGEROUS DRUGS, WERE DETECTED, HE SAID,

THE BILL NOW PROPOSES THAT CASES LIKE THESE SHOULD BE MADE AN OFFENCE IN THE SAME WAY AS AN OFFENCE TO TRAFFIC IN DANGEROUS DRUGS BUT WITH PENALTIES CORRESPONDING TO THOSE PROVIDED FOR THE OFFENCE OF DECEPTION.

+THE NEED TO PROVE A DISHONEST INTENTION WOULD BE ELIMINATED,+ MR DAVIES SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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GREATER CONTROL OVER STREET NAMING

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A BILL TO PROVIDE THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES WITH STATUTORY POWERS TO REGULATE THE SYSTEM OF NAMING STREETS WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN THE URBAN AREAS, THE AUTHORITY IS THE URBAN COUNCIL AND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1980, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES SAID WHILE THE BILL PRESERVED THE EXISTING RIGHT OF OWNERS OF A PRIVATE STREET TO SUGGEST TO THE AUTHORITY A NAME FOR IT OR TO CHANGE ITS EXISTING NAME, IT ALSO VESTED THE AUTHORITY WITH POWERS TO MAKE, OR REFUSE TO MAKE, SUCH A STREET DECLARATION IN THE GAZETTE.

WHERE THE AUTHORITY REFUSES TO MAKE A DECLARATION, THE OWNERS WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL WHOSE DECISION WOULD BE FINAL.

THIS PROVISION