XN000022-1986-05-21 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1986

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MR FINDLAY SAID AS WAS NOTED IN THE LAST FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE REPORT, A NUMBER OF DIFFICULTIES HAD ARISEN IN PREPARING THIS UNIQUE LEGISLATION, PARTICULARLY IN DEFINING ADEQUATELY IN LAW THE MEANING OF IMITATION FIREARMS.

+SOME OF THESE DIFFICULTIES ARE STILL UNSOLVED, HE SAID. +THE WORKING GROUP IS NOW STUDYING THE PROBLEM.+

+THE INTENTION IS TO SEEK THE VIEWS OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND ON WHETHER THEY ARE IN FACT PRACTICABLE IN LEGAL TERMS, AT THE COMMITTEE'S NEXT MEETING IN JULY.+

REVIEW OF LIMITS ON ELECTION EXPENSES *****

A REVIEW OF THE LIMITS ON ELECTION EXPENSES IS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY A WORKING GROUP, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI, SIR DAVID SAID AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN SET UP TO REVIEW ELECTORAL PROVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE RECENT URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

+THE LIMITS ON ELECTION EXPENSES IS ONE OF THE SUBJECTS FOR THE REVIEW WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN SIX MONTHS,+ SIR DAVID SAID.

USEFUL ADVICE FOR NEW MAGISTRATES ****

A REVIEW CARRIED OUT IN 1985 SHOWED THAT THE LAY.ASSESSOR SCHEME WAS USEFUL IN ASSISTING NEWLY-ARRIVED EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES TO UNDERSTAND HONG KONG AND CHINESE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON DANIEL TSE, SIR DAVID SAID THE REVIEW RECOMMENDED THAT UPON APPOINTMENT EACH NEW EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATE SHOULD HAVE THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ASSESSOR FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS.

+THIS HAS BEEN AND IS BEING DONE, SIR DAVID SAID.

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