XN000022-1984-01-25 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1984

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MR JEAFFRESON SAID HE WAS PLEASED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK THE POLICE, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, +FOR THE MASTERLY WAY IN WHICH THEY DEALT WITH THE DISTURBANCES ON JANUARY 13.+

HE ALSO EXPRESSED THE COMMUNITY'S APPRECIATION OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE POLICE SKILFULLY DEALT WITH THE PROTEST ACTION TAKEN BY TAXI DRIVERS BETWEEN JANUARY 11 AND 14.

IT WAS A PROTEST WHICH CALLED FOR A CAREFULLY CONTROLLED LOW-KEY RESPONSE IN ORDER TO AVOID PROVOKING CONFRONTATION AT A TIME WHEN EMOTIONS WERE RUNNING HIGH, HE ADDED.

SUGGESTIONS ON BILL INVALUABLE : JACOBS *****

INVALUABLE SUGGESTIONS WERE PROVIDED BY THE UNOFFICIAL

MEMBERS' AD HOC GROUP WHICH CONSIDERED THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR JACOBS AGREED WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THAT MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE IN THE FIELD OF COMPANY LAW REFORM EVEN AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.

REPEATING REMARKS HE MADE WHEN INTRODUCING THE BILL IN

THE COUNCIL ON MARCH 9 LAST YEAR, MR JACOBS SAID1

+COMPANY LAW MUST CHANGE WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. WE MUST IN FUTURE ENSURE THAT COMPANIES LEGISLATION IS KEPT RESPONSIVE TO OUR NEEDS.

+THE SUBJECT IS DYNAMIC AND THE LAW IN THIS AREA HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY UPDATED IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.+

MR JACOBS SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO INFORM THE COUNCIL THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LAW REFORM, HAD NOW BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HON JUSTICE CONS, A JUSTICE OF APPEAL.

THE FIRST TASK FACING THE COMMITTEE HE EXPLAINED. WOULD BE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES MENTIONED BY THE HON BILL BROWN.

+THESE HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE COMPLEX AND OFTEN CONTROVERS I AL IN NATURE,+ HE SAID.

MUCH RESEARCH AND PREPARATORY WORK WOULD HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN TO ASSIST THE COMMITTEE, AND, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, A FULL TIME POST OF SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE CREATED.

/REFERRING TO