XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 13

11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

+THESE ARE ALL USEFUL ADJUNCTS TO THE COURT'S JURISDICTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF WIVES AND CHILDREN, WHETHER LEGITIMATE OR ILLEGITIMATE, THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY THE BAR AND BY THE LAW SOCIETY,+ MR THOMAS SAID.

ON THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS (AMENDMENT) BILL, MR THOMAS SAID THIS BILL SOUGHT TO PERMIT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, AS WELL AS EITHER PARENT, TO APPLY FOR AN ORDER FOR CUSTODY AND MAINTENANCE OF A MINOR UNDER THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS ORDINANCE.

AT PRESENT SUCH AN ORDER COULD ONLY BE MADE ON THE APPLICATION OF A PARENT.

AS A RESULT, ALTHOUGH THE DIRECTOR COULD APPLY FOR THE CARE OF A MINOR IN THE MAGISTRATES COURT UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE AND IN THE HIGH COURT IN ITS WARDSHIP JURISDICTION, AN ORDER PLACING THE MINOR IN THE CARE OF THE DIRECTOR COULD ONLY BE MADE UNDER THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS ORDINANCE WHERE ONE OF THE PARENTS HAD INITIATED THE PROCEEDINGS.

THE COURT HAD NO POWER TO MAKE SUCH AN ORDER UNDER ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

+ THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD ENABLE THE DIRECTOR AS WELL AS EITHER PARENT TO INITIATE THE PROCEEDINGS. IN EVERY CASE, OF COURSE, IT WILL BE FOR THE COURT THEN TO REACH A VIEW UPON THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MINOR, + MR THOMAS SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.

BETTER PROTECTION FOR WORKERS *****

THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH WILL ENABLE EMPLOYEES INJURED IN AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT TO RECEIVE A MORE REASONABLE LEVEL OF PROTECTION WAS SUPPORTED BY THE HON TAM YEU-CHUNG.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, HE SAID THE AMENDMENTS FURTHER CLARIFIED THE PROVISIONS OF THE MAIN ORDINANCE, BUT HE EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION OVER DELAY IN THE BILL'S PASSAGE.

MR TAM SAID THAT SUCH A SIMPLE AND REASONABLE+ AMENDMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED IN THE LAST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUT THE DELAY MADE TRADE UNIONS AND LABOUR CIRCLES +FEEL WORRIED AND UNEASY+.

/HE SAID