XN000022-1985-12-18 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 198:

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+FIRST ANNUAL REPORT+ TABLED IN LEGCO

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THE ANNUAL REPORT ON HONG KONG 1984-85 TO THE U.K. PARLIAMENT, WHICH IS THE FIRST SUCH ANNUAL REPORT, WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATI COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE FORM OF A WHITE PAPER.

TABLING THE REPORT, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID ITS PURPOSE WAS TO KEEP THE U.K. PARLIAMENT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.

IT COVERED THE PERIOD FROM THE INITIALLING OF THE DRAFT SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG IN SEPTEMBER 1984 TO THE OPENING OF THE 1985-86 SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ON OCTOBER 30, AND CONTAINED A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE MAIN EVENTS IN HONG KONG IN THIS PERIOD, HE SAID.

COPIES OF THE ANNUAL REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM TOMORROW.

IN LONDON, THE ANNUAL REPORT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND PUBLISHED AS A WHITE PAPER FOR GENERAL RELEASE AT THE SAME TIME, SIR DAVID ADDED.

CRIMINAL APPEAL RULES AMENDED ****

A MOTION SEEKING TO AMEND CERTAIN PROVISIONS UNDER THE CRIMINAL APPEAL RULES WAS ADOPTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE MOTION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS WAS TO DRAW AN APPELLANT'S ATTENTION TO THE EXISTENCE OF THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT PROPOSED THAT A SUITABLE WARNING THAT THE COURT OF APPEAL HAS THE POWER TO INCREASE HIS SENTENCE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE FORMS TO BE USED WHEN A CONVICTED PERSON WISHES TO APPEAL AGAINST HIS CONVICTION OR AGAINST HIS SENTENCE.

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