XN000022-1987-11-05 — Page 15

14

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1987

HE SAID THAT THE BENEFITS TO WHICH THE CIVIL SERVANTS WERE ENTITLED SHOULD BE EXTENDED IN FULL TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE SUBVENTED SECTOR WHO HAD SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

DR HO SAID THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS WERE LIKELY то BE ENORMOUS BUT THE EXTENSION COULD BE CARRIED OUT IN STAGES.

ON THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, HE SAID THE EXISTING SCHEME WAS FAMILY-BASED AND REGARDED CHILDREN AS DEPENDENT MEMBERS OF A FAMILY UNIT. BUT THE LEVEL OF THE PROVISION WAS JUST SUFFICIENT FOR BARE SUBSISTENCE.

HE SAID HUMAN BEINGS WERE HONG KONG'S PRIMARY ASSETS, AND "WE MUST PRESERVE OUR PRECIOUS HUMAN RESOURCES, IN PARTICULAR OUR YOUNG.

++

HE THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER A CHILDREN'S SUPPLEMENT OF $280 PER MONTH FOR ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN UP TO THE AGE OF 17 YEARS OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

HE ADDED THAT THE NEWLY PROPOSED $80 MEAL ALLOWANCE COULD BE DRDUCTED FROM THE SUPPLEMENT, AND THAT CHILDREN RECEIVING A DISABILITY ALLOWANCE OR IN FULL ΤΙΜΕ EMPLOYMENT SHOULD NOT BE

ELIGIBLE FOR THE SUPPLEMENT.

TURNING TO THE SENTENCING PATTERNS ADOPTED BY THE COURTS, DR HO NOTED ONE FINDING OF SIGNIFICANCE IN THE THIRD REPORT ON THE CRIME VICTIMISATION SURVEY DUE TO BE PUBLISHED SOON.

WITH REGARD TO THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE CRIME VICTIMS SURVEYED HELD THE VIEW THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE SANCTION FOR CRIMINALS WAS IMPRISONMENT.

WARNING BY THE POLICE AND PROBATION WERE REGARDED AS ACCEPTABLE DETERRENTS BY SOME VICTIMS. VERY FEW VICTIMS SUPPORTED SUCH SENTENCES AS FINES OR PAYMENT FOR COMPENSATION.

HE SAID CRIME VICTIMS POLLED WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE SENTENCING METED OUT BY THE COURTS. THEY WERE OF THE OPINION THAT THE PENALTIES WERE NOT AS PUNITIVE AS THEY WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE, AND THAT THE COURTS WERE APPARENTLY TOO PRONE ΤΟ DISPENSE NON-CUSTODIAL

SENTENCES.

INTERPRETED AND IMPARTIALLY INNOCENCE, I. BELIEVE THAT PENALTY, SHOULD

"ONCE THE LAW HAS BEEN FAIRLY APPLIED TO THE DETERMINATION OF GUILT OR THE COURT, IN DECIDING ON THE LEVELS AND TYPES OF ATTEMPT TO REFLECT PUBLIC CONCERN, HE SAID.

||

/"SUCH CONSIDERATION