XN000022-1981-04-08 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981

BILL TO GIVE LEGCO POWER TO RAISE FINES

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A BILL SEEKING TO INTRODUCE A SIMPLER AND MORE EXPEDITIOUS MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE PUNITIVE AND DETERRENT EFFECTS OF STATUTORY PENALTIES WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) (NO 2) BILL, THE LAW DRAFTSMAN THE HON GERALD NAZARETH SAID THE BILL, WHEN PASSED, WILL EMPOWER THE COUNCIL TO REVISE THE FINES FOR STATUTORY OFFENCES BY RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF AN AMENDMENT BILL.

MR NAZARETH EXPLAINED THERE WAS A CONSTANT NEED TO INCREASE THE LEVELS OF STATUTORY FINES BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND CONTINUAL CHANGES IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENCES.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO RAISE THE CEILING OF FINES THAT MAY GENERALLY BE IMPOSED BY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION FROM $2 000 TO $5 000, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

OFFENDING MOTORISTS TO PAY MORE ****

CHARGES ARE TO BE INCREASED FOR THE IMPOUNDING, REMOVAL AND STORAGE OF VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY PARKED ON RESTRICTED ROADS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

THIS WAS SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, WHEN INTRODUCING THE HOUSING (TRAFFIC) (AMENDMENT) BY-LAWS, 1981.

FROM MAY 1 THE IMPOUNDING CHARGE IS TO BE INCREASED FROM $20 TO $50, THE TOWAWAY CHARGE FROM $80 TO $110 AND THE STORAGE

CHARGE FROM $20 TO $35 A DAY.

MR LIAO SAID THAT THE CURRENT CHARGES WERE TOO LOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.

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