XN000022-1987-12-11 — Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1987

COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL PUBLISHED

A NEW WAS PUBLISHED

THE COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL 1987, WHICH SETS OUT

CRIMES, PROCEDURE FOR THE TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE PROPOSALS WERE PUBLISHED IN THE FORM OF A

PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

WHITE BILL FOR

THEIR VIEWS ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS OMELCO, LEGISLATIVE

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO EXPRESS BILL MAY WRITE TO THE "LEGCO AD HOC GROUP TO RECEIVE

COMMERCIAL ON THE DRAFT COMPLEX

CRIMES BILL", COUNCIL BUILDING, 8 JACKSON ROAD, HONG KONG.

1988.

THE CONSULTATION PERIOD WILL LAST SIX WEEKS UNTIL

JANUARY 21,

THE

BILL WAS BASED ON THE A

SAID THE SPOKESMAN GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S "SELECT COMMITTEE ON PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF COMPLEX CRIMES" UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HON PETER C. WONG.

COMMERCIAL

COMMITTEE

MANNER IN WHICH

RECOMMENDATIONS TRIALS OF SUCH

"IT SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT THOSE SELECT

THE THAT ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE CRIMES ARE CONDUCTED.

OF CONCERN

CASES AND AND

IN

OF

"THE LENGTH AND COMPLEXITY OF SOME COMMERCIAL CRIME THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THEIR TRIAL ARE A MATTER IT IS HOPED THAT THE INITIATIVES IN THE BILL WILL LEAD TO A SAVING THE TIME AND EXPENSE OF COMMITTALS, AND TO A BETTER THE ISSUES BY THE JURY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

UNDERSTANDING

SELECT COMMITTEE

THE MAJOR AREA FOR REFORM RECOMMENDED BY THE WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY PREPARATORY HEARINGS.

HEARING BUT IT WHEN THE CASK WHAT

THE TRIAL WILL COMMENCE WITH THE PREPARATORY WILL TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE JURY IS EMPANELLED SO THAT ACTUALLY GOES BEFORE THE JURY, THE PARTIES WILL BE MORE AWARE OF

IT IS ALL ABOUT.

"THE PRESENTATION OF THE CASE BEFORE THE JURY SHOULD BE SHORTER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

**

THEREFORE

THE BILL PROPOSES THAT AT THE PREPARATORY

SERVE JTS WILL ORDER THE PROSECUTION TO DOCUMENTS.

HEARING, THE JUDGE CASE STATEMENT AND 01HER

THE ACCUSED

WILL. THEN

HAVE

THE OPPORTUNITY

TO

LODGE

BIS

OBJECTIONS.

THE JUDGE WILL

WHEN ALL THE OBJECTIONS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED, ORDER THE ACCUSED TO SERVE A WRITTEN OUTLINE OF HIS DEFENCE.

/ANY ADMISSIONS