XN000022-1984-05-02 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1934

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STEPS TAKEN AGAINST +LOAN SHARKS+

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A BILL EXTENDING THE TIME LIMIT FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN CASES OF EXCESSIVE INTEREST CHARGED BY MONEY LENDERS, WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE MONEY LENDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 24 OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE, FOR ANYONE TO LEND MONEY AT AN EFFECTIVE RATE OF INTEREST EXCEEDING 60 PER CENT A YEAR.

BECAUSE NO TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTION IS PRESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE, THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE APPLIES, AND THIS LIMITS PROSECUTION TO SIX MONTHS FROM THE TIME OF THE OFFENCE, HE SAID.

+UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OFFENCES UNDER SECTION 24 COME TO LIGHT AFTER THE TIME LIMIT OF SIX MONTHS HAS EXPIRED, AND THIS IS NOTWITHSTANDING THE VIGILANCE OF THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE, + MR JACOBS SAID.

MORE THAN HALF OF THE OFFENDERS PROSECUTED WITHIN THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD WERE, HE SAID, DETECTED ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH OTHER OFFENCES, SUCH AS BLACKMAIL AND ASSAULT.

A TWO-YEAR LIMITATION PERIOD WAS CONSIDERED MORE APPROPRIATE IN VIEW OF THE NATURE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT WAS OFTEN COMMITTED, HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO MAY 16.

BILL TO FACILITATE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL WORK

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THE OBJECT OF THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 WAS TO FACILITATE THE WORK OF THE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL BY PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY CHIEF ADJUDICATOR AND FOR THE PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO WITNESSES APPEARING BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, HE SAID THAT THE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 1980 AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 'REACHED BASE' POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAME TO AN END.

J

THE FUNCTION OF THE TRIBUNAL, HE EXPLAINED. IS TO CONSIDE- APPEALS FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE CHALLENGED THE VALIDITY OF REMOVAL ORDERS SERVED UPON THEM ON THE GROUNDS THAT -

/(A) THEY HAVE