XN000022-1983-12-15 — Page 6

URSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1983

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DEBTORS BILL FINAL STAGES DUE JANUARY 11

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THE REMAINING STAGES OF THE DEBTORS (ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT) BILL 1983 WILL NOW BE TAKEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 11 NEXT YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS SAID TODAY.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 7, IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE REMAINING STAGES WOULD BE COMPLETED ON DECEMBER 21.

+ HOWEVER, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THIS PROGRAMME MAY NOT ALLOW THOSE INTERESTED IN THE MEASURE TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSALS ADEQUATELY IN ORDER TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS,+ HE SAID.

+THE BILL DOES MAKE IMPORTANT CHANGES IN PRACTICES WHICH HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT IS DESIRABLE THAT THOSE CONCERNED SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN, HE ADDED.

A COPY OF THE BILL, INCORPORATING THE AMENDMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF DECEMBER 23.

ANY REPRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE UMELCO OFFICE OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 30, 1983, HE SAID.

FIREMAN COMMENDED FOR BRAVERY

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FIRE SERVICES PERSONNEL ARE OFTEN INVOLVED IN DANGEROUS RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR WHICH LITTLE PUBLIC RECOGNITION HAS BEEN GIVEN.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF KOWLOON FIRE COMMAND, MR M. KINGDOM WHEN HE PRESENTED HIS COMMENDATION TO FIREMAN KWOK CHI-KEUNG FOR HIS COURAGE, SKILL AND DEVOTION DURING A RESCUE OPERATION RECENTLY.

MR KWOK SUCCEEDED IN RESCUING A PATIENT WHO THREATENED TO JUMP FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL.

THE PRESENTATION, MADE AT YAUMATI FIRE STATION, WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY STAFF FROM KWONG WAH HOSPITAL AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

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