XN000022-1983-05-25 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983

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BILL SEEKS TO WIDEN RANGE OF ACTION'

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THE OBJECT OF THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 IS TO WIDEN THE RANGE OF ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN A SUPERVISION ORDER, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY.

THIS WILL BE DONE BY PRESCRIBING PENALTIES OF FINES OF UP TO $5 000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF UP TO 12 MONTHS FOR BREACHES OF SUPERVISION ORDERS ON CONVICTION IN A COURT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH ITS SECOND READING.

SECTION 6 OF THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES ORDINANCE EMPOWERS THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TO MAKE A RECALL ORDER AGAINST A PERSON WHO BREACHES THE CONDITIONS OF HIS SUPERVISION ORDER.

THIS SECTION, MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT, IS NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE, PARTICULARLY IN CASES WHERE THE PERSON IN QUESTION HAS NOT STARTED TAKING DRUGS AGAIN.

HE NOTED THAT PROVISIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE BILL ARE CONTAINED IN THE DETENTION CENTRES ORDINANCE AND TRAINING CENTRES ORDINANCE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL JUNE 8.

PROPOSAL TO INCREASE LEVEL OF FINES ****

THE WATERWORKS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WHICH IS MERELY TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF FINES TO BE IMPOSED FOR OFFENCES AGAINST THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE AND ITS REGULATIONS, WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON CHAN NAI-KEONG SAID:

*THE FINES WHICH MAY AT PRESENT BE IMPOSED WERE SET IN 1974 AND ARE $10 000, UNDER SECTION 30 OF THE ORDINANCE, FOR THE OFFENCE OF POLLUTING WATER FORMING PART OF THE WATERWORKS, AND A MAXIMUM OF $2 000, UNDER SECTION 37, FOR THE OFFENCE OF CONTRAVENING THE WATERWORKS REGULATIONS.

+IN VIEW OF THE INFLATION WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THAT DATE, IT IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE TO INCREASE THOSE FINES, IN LINE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OVER THE SAME PERIOD, TO $20 000 AND $4 000 RESPECTIVELY.+

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL JUNE 8.

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