XN000022-1986-02-05 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1986

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IS ON AGE OF MAJORITY EXPECTED

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VIEWS BY THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION ON THE MATTER OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY ARE EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED IN APRIL THIS YEAR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR, MR THOMAS EXPLAINED THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD IN JANUARY 1983 REFERRED THE MATTER TO THE COMMISSION FOR ITS VIEWS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE LAW WHERE MINIMUM AGES WERE STIPULATED FOR YOUNG PERSONS.

A SURVEY OF PUBLIC OPINION WAS THEN UNDERTAKEN BY A' SUB- COMMITTEE OF THE COMMISSION, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HON DAVID LI, ON THE AGE AT WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE VARIOUS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO MARRY, MAKE A WILL, GIVE VALID CONSENT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY AND STOCKS AND SHARES.

IN APRIL, 1983, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO 206 ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, WELFARE AGENCIES AND STUDENT AND YOUTH GROUPS, AND TO INDIVIDUALS IN CLOSE DAY-TO-DAY CONTACT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AFTER DETAILED ANALYSIS AND CONSIDERATION OF 1 580 COMPLETED RESPONSES, THE SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTED TO THE COMMISSION IN OCTOBER 1985 WITH ITS VIEWS.

MR THOMAS ADDED THAT THE COMMISSION'S REPORT, TITLED 'YOUNG PERSONS - EFFECTS OF AGE IN CIVIL LAW WOULD, IN THE USUAL WAY. BE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATION.

GREATER VIABILITY SOUGHT FOR ARTS CENTRE

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A BILL ENABLING THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE TO FUNCTION MORE EFFICIENTLY AS A COMMERCIALLY VIABLE VENUE OPERATOR WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,

MOVING THE READING, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO CLARIFY THE OBJECTIVES AND POWERS OF THE ARTS CENTRE, AND TO CREATE A MORE DIRECT AND CLEARLY DEFINED ADMINISTRIAVE STRUCTURE FOR THE CENTRE.

+THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ARTS CENTRE ARE TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE THE APPRECIATION OF, AND PARTICIPATION IN, THE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES OF THE ARTS.

/+THE BILL