XN000022-1980-12-03 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1980

9

ON

MACLENNAN ENQUIRY MAY CONTINUE TILL MARCH

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THE MACLENNAN ENQUIRY COULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR, BEARING IN MIND THE LARGE NUMBER OF WITNESSES STILL TO BE CALLED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JACK CATER SAID TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LI FOOK-WO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR JACK SAID THIS WAS THE COMMISSIONER'S MOST RECENT ADVICE. THE COMMISSIONER HOWEVER, POINTED OUT THAT THIS COULD BE A SHORTER OR LONGER PERIOD DEPENDING ON THE WITNESSES AND CROSS-EXAMINATIONS AND WHETHER NEW ISSUES ARISE WHICH NEED

FOLLOWING-UP.

AS TO THE COST OF THE ENQUIRY, CALCULATED FROM THE COMMISSION'S APPOINTMENT UP TO THE END OF JANUARY, SIR JACK SAID IT AVERAGED ABOUT $36 600 PER DAY.

BUT THIS FIGURE COULD BE MISLEADING, HE SAID, AS IT INCLUDES QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF DAYS ON WHICH THE COMMISSION WAS NOT SITTING.

+THE COST PER DAY ON WHICH THE COMMISSION WAS SITTING OR IS EXPECTED TO SIT UP TO THE END OF JANUARY HAS BEEN CALCULATED AS BEING OF THE ORDER OF $100 000,

+APART FROM EXPENSES DIRECTLY INCURRED AND CONTROLLED BY THE COMMISSION, THIS FIGURE ALSO INCLUDES THE COST OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AS WELL AS THE COST OF THE STAFF OF THE COMMISSION WHO ARE SECONDED FROM THE JUDICIARY AND THE CIVIL SERVICE.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE WITH ANY ACCURACY THE DAILY COST WHICH MAY BE INCURRED SHOULD THE ENQUIRY CONTINUE BEYOND THE END OF JANUARY, SIR JACK SAID.

ID CARD CROSS-CHECKS WILL BE QUICKER

*****

VARIOUS WAYS ARE BEING URGENTLY EXAMINED TO EXPEDITE THE SUPPLY OF PARTICULARS IN RESPONSE TO POLICE ENQUIRIES ON THE AUTHENTICITY OF ID CARDS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY.

IN THE MEANTIME POLICE CHECKS OF IDENTITY CARDS ARE MADE BY MEANS OF EXAMINING THE CARD AND COMPARING THE PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE PERSON CLAIMING TO BE THE RIGHTFUL HOLDER, HE SAID.

HE SAID OTHER CHECKS WERE ALSO MADE BUT FOR OPERATIONAL

REASONS HE DID NOT DISCLOSE THEM.

+WHERE THE BEAT OFFICER HAS ANY REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THE CARD IS NOT AUTHENTIC MORE DETAILED POLICE ENQUIRIES ARE NECESSARY AND ARE CONDUCTED IN POLICE STATIONS, HE SAID.

/MR DAVIES

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