XN000022-1981-06-12 — Page 4

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1981

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THE BILL EMPOWERS THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A REGISTRATION OFFICER AND ONE RETURNING OFFICER FOR EACH DISTRICT FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL OR DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE REGISTRATION OFFICER WOULD BE AN OFFICER IN THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE NOW BEING SET UP IN THE ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THAT THE DUTIES OF THE RETURNING OFFICER BE TAKEN UP BY THE LOCAL CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER OR DISTRICT OFFICER.

THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS, PROCEDURE AT ELECTIONS AND ELECTION PETITIONS FOLLOW CLOSELY THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS. AN EXCEPTION IS THAT THE PERIOD OF THE CYCLE FROM THE START OF REGISTRATION TO POLLING DAY HAS BEEN SHORTENED FROM 13 MONTHS (FROM MID-FEBRUARY TO EARLY MARCH IN THE NEXT YEAR) TO ABOUT SIX MONTHS (FROM THE END OF AUGUST TO EARLY MARCH IN THE NEXT YEAR).

THE SPOKESMAN SAID A SHORTER CYCLE SHOULD HELP TO REDUCE ANY LOSS OF INTEREST CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED BY VOTERS DUE TO THE LONG LAPSE IN THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION PRESCRIBING THE PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND THE PROCEDURE AT ELECTIONS WERE NOW BEING DRAFTED. ALTHOUGH DETAILS HAD NOT YET BEEN FINALISED, HE STRESSED THAT AN IMPORTANT AIM WAS THAT THE REVISED PROCESS SHOULD BE SIMPLE FOR WOULD-BE VOTERS TO FOLLOW.

IT WAS HOPED THAT ALL THE REQUIRED LEGISLATION COULD BE INTRODUCED WITH A VIEW TO STARTING REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS ON AUGUST 31 THIS YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

POWER TO IMPOSE FINES SOUGHT FOR COURTS *****

A BILL PUBLISHED TODAY PROPOSES TO EMPOWER THE HIGH COURT AND THE DISTRICT COURT TO FINE OFFENDERS IN ADDITION TO OR IN LIEU OF OTHER PUNISHMENT, EXCEPT WHERE STATUTORY SENTENCES ARE IMPOSED, AND TO MAKE TWO MINOR CHANGES TO THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE.

AT PRESENT, PRISON SENTENCES ARE SPECIFIED FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES AND THIS MAY LIMIT THE POWER OF THE COURT TO DEAL WITH THE OFFENDER. UNDER THE BILL, A FINE MAY BE IMPOSED INSTEAD OF OR AS WELL AS, THE PRISON TERM.

ONE OF THE TWO MINOR CHANGES REMOVES THE EXISTING RESTRICTION WHEREBY AN ACCUSED PERSON CANNOT BE CROSS-EXAMINED AS TO HIS CHARACTER, WHERE HE HAS GIVEN EVIDENCE AGAINST ANOTHER ACCUSED PERSON NOT CHARGED WITH THE SAME OFFENCE IN THE SAME PROCEEDINGS.

THE OTHER CHANGE ENABLES THE COURT OF APPEAL TO ALLOW AN APPEAL AGAINST A CONVICTION WHICH IS RECORDED UPON A PLEA OF GUILTY, EVEN IF THIS PLEA IS ENTERED IN ERROR.

THESE PROPOSALS, SET OUT UNDER THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, FOLLOW SIMILAR PROVISIONS ALREADY CONTAINED IN ENGLISH LEGISLATION.

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