XN000022-1982-06-02 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1982

240 FAKE DENTISTS PROSECUTED

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TWO-HUNDRED AND FORTY PERSONS WERE PROSECUTED SINCE 1979 FOR PRETENDING TO BE DENTISTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS SAID TODAY.

THE AVERAGE FINE IMPOSED WAS $750, ALTHOUGH SUSPENDED SENTENCES OF IMPRISONMENT OF ABOUT THREE MONTHS WERE IMPOSED IN A FEW CASES, HE ADDED.

MR GRIFFITHS WAS REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG.

PROPOSED REVIEW ON DEBT LAW ***

A DRAFT REPORT IS BEING SENT TO MEMBERS OF A WORKING GROUP APPOINTED IN JANUARY 1981, FOR COMMENTS ON A PROPOSAL TO REVIEW THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF COMMITING A CIVIL DEBTOR TO PRISON BEFORE HIS MEANS AND BACKGROUND WERE INVESTIGATED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE WORKING GROUP COMPRISED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE, THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, THE LAW SOCIETY, THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS (AS HE WAS THEN CALLED) AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR INLAND REVENUE.

MR GRIFFITHS, QUESTIONED BY THE HON PETER C. WONG ON THE OUTCOME OF THE PROPOSED REVIEW, SAID THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAD ALREADY OBTAINED THE VIEWS OF THE JUDICIARY EARLIER IN SEPTEMBER 1980 AND THE OUTCOME WAS THAT THEY WERE OPPOSED TO ANY CHANGE IN THE EXISTING LAW AND PROCEDURES.

MR GRIFFITHS ALSO SAID THERE WERE 25 CIVIL DEBTORS CONFINED IN PRISON AS AT MAY 28 AND THAT BETWEEN JULY 4, 1979 AND MAY 28 THIS YEAR 529 PEOPLE WERE IMPRISONED FOR DEBT.

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