XN000022-1987-12-09 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

MISS TAM ADDED THAT THE AD HOC GROUP DECIDED THAT THE WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH RESOLVING THE DISPUTES BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AGREEMENT. HENCE THE GROUP DECIDED THAT IT BROKE A GENTLEMEN'S NOT NECESSARY TO LEGISLATE ON THESE SIDE ISSUES FOR ALREADY AN ANSWER UNDER SECTION 16(3).

BILL

WHO

WAS

WHICH

THERE

WAS

SHE ALSO REFERRED TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE CANDIDATE WHO CONVICTED OF THE PROPOSED OFFENCE SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED STANDING FOR THE RELEVANT ELECTION ONLY. AND DISQUALIFICATION PERIOD OF 10 YEARS WAS TOO LONG.

WAS

THAT

FROM THE

MATTER THE AD HOC GROUP HAD LOOKED INTO THIS

AND FOUND THAT UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, THE SAME DISQUALIFICATION PERIOD WAS

MAKING IMPOSED FOR OFFENCES SUCH AS

FALSE STATEMENTS CONCERNING A CANDIDATE.

"IN FACT, THE

AMENDMENT UNDER

CLAUSE 2 OF THIS BILL HAS

FROM

REMOVED THE SENTENCE OF THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT ALL THESE OFFENCES," SHE NOTED.

MISS TAM NOTED THAT THE GROUP THAT THERE HAD BEEN AMPLE 1986.

GOVERNMENT HAD ASSURED THE

BILL CONSULTATION ON THE

AD HOC SINCE MAY

THE CONDUCT

SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLAIN CLEARLY TO THE CANDIDATES THEIR OBLIGATIONS, AND THE REGULATIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT OF THEIR CAMPAIGN, ESPECIALLY ON THE FORM

IN FOR FILLING EXPENSES WHICH WAS NOW WITHIN THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY'S DEVICE. SHE HOPED THAT THESE FORMS WERE KEPT SIMPLE.

ELECTION POWER TO

ELECTION LAW BILL AMENDMENT

* * *

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE

HON MRS

PAULINE

NG

TODAY ΤΟ THE CORRUPT AND FALSE CLAIMS OF

(WEDNESDAY) MOVED A COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT} BILL 1987 TO MAKE SPONSORSHIP BY AN ELECTION CANDIDATE AN OFFENCE.

NOTING THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN THAT THE BILL MIGHT BE TOO RESTRICTIVE, MRS NG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE AMENDMENT WAS AIMED AT PROVIDING A DEFENDANT WHO 18 ALLEGED TO HAVE MADE SUCH FALSE CLAIMS, WITH A DEFENCE ON THE GROUNDS OF "REASONABLE EXCUSE", SO THAT THE BILL WOULD NOT BE TOO RESTRICTIVE AND YET ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTIVELY PREVENTING FALSE CLAIMS.

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