XN000022-1984-10-25 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984

THE OTHER MEANS OF SUPPORT WAS TO IMPOSE HEAVIER PUNISHMENT ON VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTIVE MEASURES THROUGH LEGISLATION, MRS FAN SAID.

ON OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS AND VIDEO-TAPES, SHE PROPOSED STRENGTHENING LEGISLATION SO THAT THE COURTS COULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP PUBLICATION WHEN DEALING WITH PERSISTENT OFFENDERS.

SHE ALSO URGED SETTING UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THE +OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS TRIBUNAL+ WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS MENTIONED TO THE COUNCIL IN JULY.

'POLICY ADJUSTMENT NEEDED TO MEET CHANGES'

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HONG KONG NEEDED TO ADJUST ITS POLICIES OVER THE NEXT 13 YEARS TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH THE BASIC ARRANGEMENTS SET OUT FOR THE TERRITORY AFTER 1997 IN THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT, THE HON PAULINE NG SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS NG SAID IT WAS HOPEJ THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT MAJOR PROJECTS, MAKE INVESTMENTS AND IMPLEMENT PLANS IN A FAR-SIGHTED WAY.

+ IN DOING SO, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR US, SHOWING THAT IT NOT ONLY CARES FOR THE LONG-TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG BUT ALSO HAS CONFIDENCE IN OUR FUTURE,+ SHE SAID.

ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MRS NG SAID AT A TIME WHEN HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM WAS HEADING TOWARDS A MORE OPEN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, CHANGES TO DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE.

SHE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SPEED UP THE FURTHER DEVELOPME¦‚T OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND ENHANCE THE STATUS OF DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

AT THE MOMENT, THE GENERAL STATE OF MOST MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WAS STAGNANT AND ONE OF LOW MORALE.

THE REASON WAS THAT PARTICIPATION BY RESIDENTS WAS NOT ACTIVE AND THE FINANCIAL SUBSIDY FROM GOVERNMENT WAS STILL VERY LIMITED WHICH RESTRAINED THE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES.

IN ADDITION, SHE SAID, THE IMPORTANCE OF AREA COMMITTEES, WHICH OFTEN MADE VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS ON DISTRICT AFFAIRS TO DISTRICT BOARDS AND REFLECTED VIEWS FROM MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS' INCORPORATIONS, SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.

/+TRE GOVERNMENT