XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

WITH REGARD TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, MR LIAO SAID THE COMPLETION OF THE TWO REPLACEMENT BLOCKS AT KWAI FONG ESTATE, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE 905 FLATS, HAD BEEN ADVANCED TO MAY AND JULY THIS YEAR, AND CONSTRUCTION WORK WAS ALREADY PROGRESSING ON FIVE MORE SUPPLEMENTARY SITES.

+THESE SITES AT KWAI CHUNG, SHUN TIN, CHUK YUEN, SHAM SHUI PO, AND SHEK LEI WILL, ON COMPLETION AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR, PRODUCE A FURTHER 5 000 FLATS,+ HE SAID.

MR LIAO FURTHER SAID ADDITIONAL URBAN SITES WERE BEING ACTIVELY SOUGHT WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS.

MR LIAO SAID THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, ASSISTED BY SPECIALLY APPOINTED CONSULTANTS AND A NEW IN-HOUSE TEAM, WAS CURRENTLY COMPLETING PLANS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE MODERNISATION PROGRAMME OF THE AUTHORITY'S OLDER HOUSING STOCK,

+THIS WILL INCLUDE PROPOSALS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITES VACANTED BY THE DEMOLITION OF THE 26 BLOCKS, AND WILL PROVIDE THE BLUE PRINT FOR THE EXTENDED REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE FUTURE,+ HE ADDED.

MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED

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THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WHICH SOUGHT TO GIVE A MAGISTRATE DISCRETION TO AMEND OR DISMISS A DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT INFORMATION OR SUMMONS, WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, THE HON MARTIN LEE NOTED THAT SECTION 27 OF THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE HAD BEEN REPEATEDLY INTERPRETED BY THE SUPREME COURT AS ENJOINING A MAGISTRATE TO AMEND A DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT, INFORMATION OR SUMMONS WITHOUT GIVING ANY DISCRETION WHATSOEVER TO THE TRIAL MAGISTRATE, WHO MIGHT FEEL DIS INCLINED TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT WAS UNFAIR TO THE DEFENCE.

HE RECALLED THAT SOME 15 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS A JUNIOR APPEARING BEFORE A FAIR-MINDED MAGISTRATE, HE FACED A SIMILAR DIFFICULTY. THE MAGISTRATE WAS EXTREMELY RELUCTANT TO AMEND A DEFECTIVE SUMMONS BUT FELT OBLIGED TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE MANDATORY LANGUAGE USED IN SECTION 27 OF THE ORDINANCE.

/+HE AMENDED