XN000022-1986-02-04 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1986

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ALSO DISCUSSED A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT PREPARED BY A WORKING PARTY OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE ON HAWKER CONTROL AND EXAMINED THE RELEVANCE OF THE WORKING PARTY'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NON-URBAN AREAS.

THEIR VIEWS WOULD BE CONVEYED TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND. WHERE APPROPRIATE, WOULD BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

LAW REFORM COMMISSION APPOINTS SUB-COMMITTEE

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION HAD RECENTLY APPOINTED A SUB-COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE LAW CONCERNING THE COMPETENCE AND COMPELLABILITY OF SPOUSES TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

UNDER THE EXISTING LAW, A WIFE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST HER HUSBAND AT HIS TRIAL FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, SAVE IN CERTAIN EXCEPTIONAL CASES, NOR CAN SHE BE COMPELLED TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN HIS DEFENCE.

IN RECENT YEARS REFORMS HAVING THE EFFECT OF MAKING SPOUSES ABLE (AND, IN SOME CASES, COMPELLABLE) TO GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST EACH OTHER IN CRIMINAL CASES, AND COMPELLABLE TO GIVE EVIDENCE ON EACH OTHER'S BEHALF HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN CANADA AND AUSTRALIA, AND ENACTED IN ENGLAND. THE SUB-COMMITTEE WILL BE SEEKING PUBLIC VIEWS ON WHETHER SIMILAR REFORMS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMISSION MEMBER, DR BYRON SJ WENG OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, INCLUDES AN URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR LEE CHIK-YUET; A BARRISTER, MISS FI-LAN CHUA; LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MRS ROSANNA TAM; UNIVERSITY LECTURER, MS ANNE HUGHES AND DEPUTY CROWN PROSECUTOR, MR ANDREW HODGE.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT ARE INVITED TO CONTACT OR WRITE TO THE SUB-COMMITTEE SECRETARY

MR MICHAEL F RUTTER

LAW REFORM COMMISSION

FOURTH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES

66 QUEENSWAY

HONG KONG

TEL 5-8622166

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