XN000022-1985-09-27 — Page 10

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ON

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1985

+PLEA-BY-POST+ STARTS ON TUESDAY

******

LAW-BREAKERS WHO COMMIT MINOR OFFENCES WILL HAVE MORE

OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER PLEAS BY MAIL AND STAY CLEAR OF THE COURTS, AS FROM NEXT TUESDAY (OCTOBER 1).

UNDER A NEW SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN A SIX-MONTH TRIAL IN THE CENTRAL AND CHEUNG SHA WAN POLICE DIVISIONS, OFFENCES ATTRACTING PENALTIES OF LESS THAN $10,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT MAY BE DEALT WITH BY POST, AT THE DISCRETION OF DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS.

THIS IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS IN PAPERWORK, TIME, AND PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE.

UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, A POLICE OFFICER MIGHT STOP A PERSON WHOM HE BELIEVES HAS COMMITTED A MINOR OFFENCE WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN MAY LAST YEAR.

THE PERSON WOULD THEN BE TOLD THE NATURE OF THE CHARGE AND INFORMED THAT HE WILL BE REPORTED. NEXT. HE WILL RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE COURT INFORMING HIM THAT AN ALLEGATION HAS BEEN MADE AGAINST HIM, AND OFFERING SEVERAL OPTIONS. HE MAY:

PLEAD GUILTY BY POST

+ PLEAD GUILTY, BUT REQUEST A COURT HEARING OF HIS DEFENCE

PLEAD NOT GUILTY

IGNORE THE LETTER

IF HE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE LETTER, OR ADMITS THE OFFENCE BY LETTER, THE CASE WILL BE HEARD IN ABSENTIA BY A LAY MAGISTRATE SITTING IN CHAMBERS WHO WILL AWARD A PENALTY.

NOTICE OF THE PENALTY WILL BE SENT BY POST TO THE OFFENDER, GIVING HIM 21 DAYS TO PAY. IF HE FAILS TO PAY BY THE DUE DATE FURTHER NOTICE WILL BE SERVED PERSONALLY ON THE OFFENDER GIVING HIM A FURTHER 14 DAYS TO MAKE PAYMENT. AFTER THAT A WARRANT OF ARREST MAY BE ISSUED.

OUTLINING THE NEW SYSTEM TODAY (FRIDAY), THE POLICE STAFF OFFICER (GENERAL), MR MARTIN SAMSON, STRESSED THAT THE REVAMPED PROCEDURES WERE BASICALLY DESIGNED AS AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE OVERLOADED SUMMONS-TO-COURT SYSTEM, WHERE MINOR OFFENCES ARE CONCERNED.

SAID.

**NO-ONE WILL BE UNFAIRLY PUNISHED WITHOUT A HEARING, HE

''AT EVERY STAGE OF THIS SYSTEM THERE ARE RIGHTS OF REVIEW. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON DOESN'T RECEIVE ANY OF THE LETTERS, HE WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO A REVIEW FOR AN UNLIMITED PERIOD.

/''IF IT

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