XN000022-1980-12-03 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1980

CHECK ON USE OF CHINESE IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS

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THERE IS A FULL-TIME ENFORCEMENT SECTION IN THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT DEPARTMENTS ADHERE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE USE OF CHINESE IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS, THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO, MR BARNES SAID TEAMS OF SENIOR CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS IN THE SECTION PAY REGULAR VISITS TO ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO EVALUATE THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS WITH THE DEPARTMENTAL STAFF.

HE SAID EXPANSION OF THE USE OF CHINESE HAD ALSO REQUIRED AN INCREASE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS. THERE ARE NOW 266 OF THEM AS COMPARED WITH 228 IN JUNE 1978. THE ENTRY QUALIFICATION FOR THE GRADE HAS BEEN RAISED TO DEGREE LEVEL.

MR BARNES NOTED THAT IN FEBRUARY 1979 AN ADVISORY PANEL ON CHINESE LANGUAGE POLICY WAS ESTABLISHED IN UMELCO TO WATCH OVER THE PROGRESS IN INCREASING THE USE OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AND TO ADVISE ON HOW THE STANDARD OF THE GOVERNMENT TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES COULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED.

+MY STAFF AND I MEET REGULARLY WITH THIS PANEL AND OUR DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN MOST USEFUL IN ASSISTING THE GOVERNMENT TO FURTHER THE USE OF CHINESE IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS.

+ I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PANEL IS REASONABLY SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRESS, HE SAID.

RAPE REPORT STATISTICS

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RAPE CASES REPORTED TO THE POLICE EACH YEAR IN 1974-79 WERE 101, 83, 62, 55, 62 AND 104, GIVING AN AVERAGE OF 78 A YEAR. TO THE END OF OCTOBER THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN 65 REPORTS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN, MR DAVIES SAID IN ALL THE CASES, THE POLICE WERE SATISFIED ON QUESTIONING THE VICTIM AND AFTER MEDICAL EXAMINATION THAT THERE WERE GROUNDS FOR CONCLUDING THAT A RAPE HAD OCCURRED.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE 104 REPORTED CASES IN 1979 SHOWS THAT 39 CASES ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND 65 HAVE RESULTED IN PROSECUTIONS. OF THESE 43 HAVE RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, 17 IN ACQUITTALS. FOUR ARE PENDING RESULTS AND IN ONE CASE THE ACCUSED DIED BEFORE TRIAL, MR DAVIES SAID.

THERE ARE HOWEVER NO STATISTICS TO SHOW HOW MANY OF THE REPORTED CASES LED TO PREGNANCY.

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