XN000022-1984-07-11 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1984

THE PENALTY FOR POSSESSING ARMS OR AMMUNITION WITHOUT A LICENCE WILL BE INCREASED FROM 10 TO 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. AND THAT FOR CONVERTING AN IMITATION FIREARM INTO A FIREARM, FROM FIVE TO 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

SECONDLY, SAID MR MORTIMER, THE BILL WILL INTRODUCE A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT SO THAT IF THE PROSECUTION FAILS TO PROVE A CHARGE OF CARRYING AN IMITATION FIREARM WITH CRIMINAL INTENT, THE PERSON CHARGED MAY STILL BE CONVICTED OF THE LESSER ALTERNATIVE OFFENCE OF SIMPLE POSSESSION,

+CRIME STATISTICS SHOW AN INCREASING USE OF FIREARMS IN CRIME GENERALLY AND IN SUCH CRIMES AS GOLDSMITH ROBBERIES IN PARTICULAR,+ SAID MR MORTIMER.

+THE WORK ING GROUP ON THE USE OF FIREARMS IN CRIME, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, RECOMMENDED THE INCREASED PENALTIES PROPOSED IN THIS BILL, HAVING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE RECENT TRENDS IN CRIME STATISTICS AND THE HIGH LEVEL OF PENALTIES FOR SUCH OFFENCES PREVAILING ELSEWHERE IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION.+

THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED, HE SAID, TO HALT THE INCREASING USE OF FIREARMS IN CRIME BY MAKING OFFENDERS LIABLE TO VERY LONG TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

PRIVATE SECTOR ABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ELECTRICITY

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THE RECORD SUPPORTS THE VIEW THAT THE TASK OF PROVIDING ELECTRICITY THROUGHOUT HONG KONG IS BEST LEFT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY.

THIS IS SUBJECT TO ADEQUATE MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL, MR JACOBS SAID.

+ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL IS TO ENSURE THAT COMSUMERS ENJOY A RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT SERVICE, AND THAT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THIS SERVICE IS MADE, HE SAID.

MR JACOBS WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO. THE SCHEMES REQUIRE THE POWER COMPANIES TO SUBMIT PLANS TO THE GOVERNMENT, OUTLINING THE IR PROPOSALS FOR CAPITAL EXPANSION AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND SPECIFICALLY WHENEVER THERE IS TO BE ANY MAJOR NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

+

/+IF IT