XN000022-1986-11-07 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1986

THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 109) WAS ENACTED IN 1931 FOR THE TAXATION AND CONTROL OF LIQUOR, TOBACCO, HYDROCARBON OIL, METHYL ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND WAS LAST SUBSTANTIALLY REVISED IN 1963.

A TOTAL OF 42 FIRMS AND ORGANISATIONS, REPRESENTING EVERY SECTOR OF THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES TRADE, WERE CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WHICH WOULD AFFECT THEIR RESPECTIVE INTERESTS.

THE CONSULTATION PROCESS WAS ALSO EXTENDED TO THE FOUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG IND THE TRADE FACILITATION COUNCIL.

A GENERALLY FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM THE TRADE WAS RECEIVED. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, TOGETHER WITH COMMENTS RECEIVED AND THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE, WERE THEN REFERRED TO AND ENDORSED BY THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD.

THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 19.

1 445 613 ELECTORS LISTED ON ROLL

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A TOTAL OF 1 445 613 ELECTORS WERE LISTED ON THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL AS THIS YEAR'S REGISTRATION PERIOD ENDED ON SEPTEMBER 30.

THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 4 073 ELECTORS COMPARED WITH 1 441 540 NAMES ALREADY ON THE FINAL REGISTER, A REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION SPOKESMAN SAID.

OF THE TOTAL OF 32 306 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN THE PERIOD, 20 439 WERE ACCEPTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER WHILE THE REMAINDER WERE REPORTS ON CHANGES OF ADDRESS AND DUPLICATE APPLICATIONS.

THERE WERE ALSO 16 366 NAMES OMITTED FROM THE REGISTER DUE TO DEATHS, EMIGRATION AND LOSS OF CONTACT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THESE DELETIONS WERE MADE IN RESPECT OF 6 527 DEATHS, 1 846 CASES OF EMIGRATION, 7 056 CASES WHERE THE DIVISION HAD BEEN UNABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE ELECTORS AND 937 DOUBLE REGISTRATION CASES,+ HE EXPLAINED.

/THE PROVISIONAL