XN000022-1986-04-16 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1986

IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLICATION OF REPORTS MADE BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, HE SAID, THE BILL SOUGHT TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE DEFAMATION ORDINANCE SO THAT REPORTS OF THE COUNCIL'S ANNOUNCEMENTS ENJOYED THE PROTECTION OF THE DEFENCE OF QUALIFIED PRIVILEGE UNDER SECTION 14 OF THAT ORDINANCE.

HE ALSO SAID THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL.

THE BILL ALSO SOUGHT TO CLARIFY ANOTHER AREA OF THE LAW, MR THOMAS SAID.

THE DEFAMATION ORDINANCE AT PRESENT PREVENTED DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS MADE BY CANDIDATES IN ELECTIONS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL OR TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BEING GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DEFENCE OF QUALIFIED PRIVILEGE, HE SAID.

+TO ENSURE THAT ALL PUBLIC AND CIVIC ELECTIONS HELD IN HONG KONG ARE TREATED EQUALLY, THIS BILL EXTENDS THE RELEVANT SECTION OF THE DEFAMATION ORDINANCE TO DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS MADE BY CANDIDATES IN ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND TO DISTRICT BOARDS.

+CANDIDATES WILL, OF COURSE, BE ABLE TO DEFEAT CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION IN RESPECT OF THEIR ELECTIONEERING STATEMENTS IF THEY CAN SHOW THAT THE STATEMENTS MADE WERE TRUE AND ACCURATE INSOFAR AS THEY ARE MATTERS OF FACT AND FAIR AND HONEST INSOFAR AS THEY ARE COMMENT ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

+THESE ARE THE ORDINARY DEFENCES OF JUSTIFICATION AND FAIR COMMENT,+ HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

BILL CONTAINS NEW SECTION ON PROFITS TAX

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THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1986 SEEKS TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO THE CONCESSIONS ON PROFITS TAX AND PERSONAL TAXATION PROPOSED IN THE 1986-87 BUDGET, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR JOHN EXPLAINED THAT ON PROFITS TAX, THE BILL REPEALS THE AMENDMENTS MADE IN 1984 TO THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE WHICH SOUGHT TO MAKE SOME INTEREST EARNED ON OFFSHORE DEPOSITS CHARGEABLE TO PROFITS TAX. +

HE SAID