XN000022-1984-01-25 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1984

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FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROCEDURES PROPOSED, MINOR OFFENCES ARE DEFINED AS THOSE WHERE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, WHETHER OR NOT ORDERS RELATING TO COMPENSATION OR LICENCE DISQUALIFICATION MAY ALSO BE IMPOSED.

IN SUCH CASES, A DEFENDANT WILL GENERALLY SPEAKING NOT BE ISSUED WITH A SUMMONS TO APPEAR IN COURT AS IS PRESENTLY THE CASE.

+ INSTEAD A NOTICE OF PROSECUTION WILL BE FILED IN A MAGISTRATES COURT BY THE PROSECUTING OFFICER SETTING OUT DETAILS OF THE OFFENCE, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WHICH COULD BE IMPOSED OR THE ORDERS WHICH COULD BE MADE ON CONVICTION, AND A STATEMENT OF ANY PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS THAT MAY BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

+THIS NOTICE WILL THEN BE SERVED BY POST UPON THE DEFENDANT, MR THOMAS EXPLAINED.

IF THE DEFENDANT WISHES TO BE HEARD, HE MUST INFORM THE COURT WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME AND STATE WHETHER HE INTENDS TO PLEAD GUILTY OR NOT.

J

IN THIS CASE A SUMMONS WILL BE ISSUED AND THE PROCEEDINGS WILL CONTINUE IN THE ORDINARY WAY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PARTIES.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO FEBRUARY 15.

STAMP THEMES CHOSEN FOR HK RELEVANCE

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THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMPS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE THEMES CHOSEN ARE RELEVANT TO HONG KONG, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, EXPLAINED TODAY.

THE POLICY IS ALSO TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD FOR BOTH THE DESIGN AND THE PRINTING OF THESE ISSUES, AND TO RELATE THE DENOMINATIONS USED TO POSTAL NEEDS RATHER THAN TO SEEK TO MAXIMISE REVENUE FOR ITS OWN SAKE, HE SAID.

+ I BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY HAS RESULTED IN HONG KONG DESERVEDLY EARNING THE ESTEEM, SUPPORT AND LONG-TERM INTEREST OF SERIOUS PHILATELISTS,+ HE ADDED,

REPLYING TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON BILL BROWN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMPS HAVE PROVED TO BE POPULAR WITH COLLECTORS BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS.

THE POLICY WAS ALSO TO ISSUE NO MORE THAN FIVE SETS AND, IN PRACTICE, NO MORE THAN FOUR A YEAR, WHEREAS HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BRITISH POST OFFICE NORMALLY PRODUCED UP TO EIGHT SPECIAL ISSUES ANNUALLY, HE SAID.

EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE SUGGESTS THAT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMEMORATIVE OR SPECIAL ISSUES CAN BE A SELF-DEFEATING EXERCISE, MR JACOBS SAID.

/+THE INCREASED