XN000022-1982-01-22 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1982

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ANOTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENT WHICH WILL BRING THE POLICE INTO LINE WITH OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES PROVIDES THAT A POLICE OFFICER AGAINST WHOM A CRIMINAL CHARGE FOR ANY OFFENCE OUTSIDE HONG KONG IS PROVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS IF IT WERE PROVED IN HONG KONG. THIS PROVISION ALREADY EXISTS IN THE PRISONS ORDINANCE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE ORDINANCE,

AT PRESENT A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OR CONSTABLE MAY RESIGN FROM THE FORCE BY GIVING ONE MONTH'S NOTICE OR PAYING ONE MONTH'S SALARY IN LIEU OF NOTICE, AN INSPECTOR MAY RESIGN BY GIVING THREE MONTHS' NOTICE OR PAYING ONE MONTH'S SALARY IN LIEU.

IT IS PROPOSED IN THE BILL THAT THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD BE GIVEN THE DISCRETION TO WAIVE OR REDUCE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INSPECTOR OR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER TO SERVE OUT A PERIOD OF NOTICE OR PAY A FULL MONTH'S SALARY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID AN OFFICER COULD BE RELEASED AT ONCE ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS OR WHERE REQUIRING HIM TO SERVE OUT HIS PERIOD OF NOTICE WOULD SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE, SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF AN OFFICER WHO HAD NOT COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING.

HOLIDAY WATER HOURS ***

WATER RESTRICTIONS WILL BE RELAXED DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED THE PUBLIC TODAY.

+TAPS WILL BE TURNED ON FROM 6 AM ON SUNDAY, WHICH IS LUNAR NEW YEAR'S EVE, TO 10 AM ON THURSDAY (JANUARY 28),+ THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER, MR TOM TOMLINSON SAID TODAY.

HE SAID THIS WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE ALMOST 20 PER CENT SAYING IN WATER BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE RESTRICTIONS.

WATER.

HOWEVER, HE WISHED TO STRESS THE CONTINUING NEED TO SAVE

*THERE IS STILL SOME TIME TO GO BEFORE THE WET SEASON, AND EVEN THEN WE SHOULD NOT BE OVER-OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF PLENTIFUL RAINFALL, + HE SAID.

MR TOMLINSON REITERATED EARLIER APPEALS FOR MAXIMUM ECONOMY IN THE USE OF WATER.

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