XN000022-1984-07-06 — Page 9

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1984

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A SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ANXIOUS TO AVOID ANY DELAY IN PAYMENTS FROM THIS FUND, AND THE DECISION TO IMPOSE A LEVY ON BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES FROM OCTOBER 1 WOULD ALLOW WORK ING CAPITAL TO BE ACCUMULATED WHILE LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH THE FUND WAS BEING FINALISED.

→THIS WOULD ENABLE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE FROM THE FUND AS SOON AS IT IS ESTABLISHED. OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE SOME MONTHS' DELAY UNTIL THE FUND BUILT UP SUFFICIENT CAPITAL TO MEET DEMANDS FOR PAYMENT.+

THE LEVY WILL BE PAYABLE IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL FEE FOR BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES HELD BY BOTH MAIN AND BRANCH OFFICES OF A BUSINESS. BUSINESSES CURRENTLY EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO HOLD A BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE BILL.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE BILL'S PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

BILL TO IMPROVE JURY SELECTION

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THE METHODS OF SELECTING PERSONS FOR JURY SERVICE WILL BE IMPROVED IF A JURY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED TODAY IS ACCEPTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BILL PROPOSES TO AUGMENT THE LIST OF JURORS BY RETAINING THOSE WHO ARE AGED OVER 60 BUT UNDER 65, AND INCLUDING CIVIL SERVANTS AND TEACHERS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE AGE LIMIT COULD BE RAISED TO 65 BECAUSE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG NOW ENJOY GREATER EXPECTATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE, AND IT WOULD BE A LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY IF OLDER BUT WIDELY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE WERE EXCLUDED FROM JURY SERVICE.

BY INCLUDING CIVIL SERVANTS AND TEACHERS AND ACADEMICS, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF JURY SERVICE ON THE EXISTING JURORS AND MAKE THE JURY PANEL MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID,

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SHOULD TEACHERS BE SELECTED FOR JURY SERVICE, AT A TIME DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR STUDENTS, SUCH AS SHORTLY BEFORE EXAMINATIONS, THEY COULD APPLY FOR TEMPORARY EXEMPTION TO +A LESS CRITICAL TIME AND WOULD BE GIVEN SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION.

EXEMPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED, TO PEOPLE WHOSE PROFESSION OR EMPLOYMENT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH JURY SERVICE, SUCH AS MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCING AGENCIES, AS WELL AS TO FULL-TIME STUDENTS OF ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE IR LEVEL OF STUDY, AND MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS.

THE BILL