XN000022-1982-07-14 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1982

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ACTION TAKEN AGAINST OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS

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THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT CONSIDER THAT THERE WAS ANY DEFICIENCY IN THE POWERS AT ITS DISPOSAL UNDER THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON WONG LAM, MR GRIFFITHS SAID THAT NORMALLY BOTH A PUBLISHER AND AN EDITOR, WERE PROSECUTED, AND OCCASIONALLY A PRINTER TOO.

HE SAID: IN 1975 THERE WERE SIX PROSECUTIONS, ALL SUCCESSFUL. IN 1976 NO PROSECUTIONS. IN 1977, FIVE- ALL SUCCESSFUL. IN 1978 FOUR, ALL SUCCESSFUL. IN 1979, 57, OF WHICH 55 WERE SUCCESSFUL. IN 1980 THERE WERE 60 OF WHICH 58 WERE SUCCESSFUL,

+ IN 1981 THERE WERE 104 OF WHICH 99 WERE SUCCESSFUL AND THREE ARE STILL PENDING. IN 1982 THERE HAVE BEEN 60 TO DATE.

+THE MAXIMUM PENALTY HAS NEVER BEEN IMPOSED.+

BILL TO FACILITATE LEVY ASSESSMENT

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THE MAIN OBJECT OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 IS TO FACILITATE THE ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING LEVIES ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, THE HON C.H. HAYE, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY ASSESSES LEVIES ON THE BASIS OF NOTIFICATIONS GIVEN BY CONTRACTORS AND AUTHORISED PERSONS ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS CONCERNED, MR HAYE SAID IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.

SUCH NOTIFICATIONS ARE GIVEN IN FORMS PRESCRIBED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

+AS THESE FORMS NEED AMENDMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME TO REFLECT CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES, THE AUTHORITY HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE POWER TO SPECIFY THE FORMS SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE AUTHORITY.

+THIS WILL OBVIATE THE NEED TO TROUBLE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EVERY TIME THE NEED TO AMEND THE FORMS ARISES,+ MR HAYE EXPLAINED.

DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.

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