XN000022-1984-06-13 — Page 14

12

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984

+ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS A CERTIFICATE FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY THAT THE FOREIGN DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY HIM IN CONNECTION WITH THOSE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

+THE NEW SECTION VERY SENSIBLY LEAVES IT TO THE COURT TO DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OR PROBATIVE FORCE TO BE GIVEN TO THE DOCUMENT, + MR NAZARETH SAID.

ON THE PROPOSAL FOR 14 DAYS NOTICE, HE SAID IT CORRESPONDS TO A SIMILAR PROVISION IN NEW SECTION 22A (6) AND +FITS WELL INTO THE SCHEME OF THE BILL.+

+HOWEVER, AS A BUREAUCRAT OF LONG STANDING, I FIND MYSELF LESS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE GROUP'S FEARS THAT WITHOUT GUIDELINES, DEFENDANTS OR THEIR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE CONFRONTED WITH BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES.

+NONETHELESS, I CONFIRM THAT GUIDELINES WILL BE PRODUCED. THESE HOPE WILL MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT NO BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES ARE INTENDED, OR INDEED WILL BE PERMITTED, + MR NAZARETH SAID.

PROGRESS MADE ON HOUSING COOPERATIVE ISSUE

****

SOME PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS ABOUT WHETHER CIVIL SERVANTS' HOUSING COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES WHICH HAD FULLY REPAID THEIR LOANS, SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SELL OR REDEVELOP THE IR PROPERTIES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

DURING 1982 AND 1983, DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD WITH THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, WITH MANY OF THE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES, WITH THE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES FEDERATION AND WITH STAFF SIDÉ REPRESENTATIVES, MR ROWLANDS SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO.

+THESE HAVE LED TO THE FORMULATION OF PROPOSALS WHICH, IF APPROVED, WOULD PERMIT THE LEGAL TITLE TO CIVIL SERVANTS' COOPERATIVE HOUSING SCHEME FLATS TO BE TRANSFERRED, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES, WHO WOULD THEN BE FREE TO DISPOSE OF THE IR FLATS,+ MR ROWLANDS SAID.

THE PROPOSALS WOULD ALSO ENABLE THE OWNERS TO REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTIES.

+I PROPOSE TO ISSUE NEXT MONTH A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT FORMALLY INVITING THE VIEWS OF ALL CIVIL SERVICE HOUSING COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND THE STAFF SIDE ON THESE PROPOSALS.

/+ACTION THEREAFTER