XN000022-1983-12-21 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983

MORE MONEY FOR WITNESSES

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WITNESSES IN CRIMINAL CASES ARE TO RECEIVE INCREASED COMPENSATION, UNDER A RESOLUTION APPROVED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MOVING THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (WITNESSES' ALLOWANCES) (AMENDMENT) RULES 1983, THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, MR GERALD NAZARETH, SAID THAT, AT PRESENT, CRIMINAL CASE WITNESSES RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF $50 PER DAY, OR $25 WHERE THE ABSENCE FROM HOME OR WORK DOES NOT EXCEED FOUR HOURS.

+BOTH THESE AMOUNTS WERE FIXED IN 1978, + HE SAID.

+SINCE THEN INCREASED REMUNERATION RATES AND INFLATION

HAVE MADE THEM INCREASINGLY UNREALISTIC.+

THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE NEW RATES OF $90 AND $45 RESPECTIVELY.

THE NEW LIMITS DO NOT AFFECT ALLOWANCES FOR PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERT WITNESSES, FOR WHICH SEPARATE PROVISION IS MADE, MR NAZARETH EXPLAINED.

PHONE WEATHER SERVICE FEE INCREASED

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A MOTION SEEKING INCREASES IN CHARGES FOR WEATHER WARNING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS SAID THE COMPANY OFFERED ITS SUBSCRIBERS À THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN WARNING SERVICE AT A CHARGE OF $50 FOR INITIAL REGISTRATION AND AN ANNUAL CHARGE OF $144.

THE SAME SCALE OF CHARGES APPLIED ALSO TO THE COMPANY'S TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SERVICE.

THE INCREASES WOULD RAISE THE REGISTRATION FEE IN EACH CASE BY $40 TO $90.

IN ADDITION TO THE REVISION OF REGISTRATION FEES, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY ALSO PROPOSED TO BREAKDOWN ITS THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN WARNING SERVICES INTO TWO NEW, SEPARATE SERVICES A THUNDERSTORM WARNING SERVICE AND A FLOOD WARNING SERVICE.

MR JACOBS SAID THE CHANGE WOULD REFLECT A SIMILAR DISTINCTION WHICH THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY INTRODUCED IN MAY THIS YEAR IN ITS OWN WEATHER INFORMATION WARNINGS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TWO RELATED BUT DISTINCT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

/THE FEC