XN000022-1985-06-26 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1985

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STATUTORY POWERS SOUGHT FOR CUSTOMS POST

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THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 IS TO ALLOW MORE THAN ONE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TO CARRY OUT STATUTORY FUNCTIONS UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON HARNAM GREWAL, WHEN HE MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.

MR GREWAL SAID IT WAS ALSO INTENDED THAT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE (DISCIPLINE) RULES SHOULD BE AMENDED TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER TO COMPEL THE RETIREMENT OF CUSTOMS OFFICERS.

+OPPORTUNITIES HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MAKE A NUMBER OF SMALL AMENDMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE DEFEDERALISATION ON AUGUST 1, 1982, OF THE OLD TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS LAPSING WITH EFFECT FROM THAT DATE, HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

TIME RIGHT FOR NOTES BILL ***

THERE WILL NEVER BE A BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO DEAL WITH +OUTMODED LEGISLATION+ WHICH MAKES IT UNLAWFUL TO USE FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES AS A MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE IN HONG KONG. THE HON W.C.L. BROWN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR BROWN WAS SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE FOREIGN NOTES (PROHIBITION OF CIRCULATION) (REPEAL) BILL 1984.

HE SAID IF SOMEONE WHO HAD USED FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES IN HONG KONG WAS TOLD HE WAS A CRIMINAL HE WOULD NOT ONLY FEEL INSULTED BUT WOULD DOUBTLESS CONSIDER THE WHOLE MATTER ABSURD.

+THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS SIMPLY TO REMOVE AN OUTDATED PIECE OF LEGISLATION FROM THE STATUTE BOOK AND BRING THE LAW INTO LINE WITH WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE MARKET PLACE,+ HE SAID.

MR BROWN SAID THE FOREIGN NOTES (PROHIBITION OF CIRCULATION) ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1913 TO PREVENT FOREIGN NOTES FROM COMPETING WITH LOCAL NOTES WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT HAVING TO PAY STAMP DUTY AND TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AGAINST A NOTE ISSUE IN RESPECT OF WHICH GOVERNMENT HELD NO SECURITY AND OVER WHICH IT POSSESSED NO CONTROL.

/+NONE OF