XN000022-1988-06-10 — Page 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1988

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BILL ON TRIAD RENUNCIATION SCHEME PUBLISHED

A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR A TRIAD RENUNCIATION SCHEME WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LATER THIS MONTH.

THE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL, WHICH WAS 1988 GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRIAD RENUNCIATION TRIBUNAL TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF RENUNCIATION OF

TRIAD MEMBERSHIP.

UNDER THE EXISTING SOCIETIES ORDINANCE A PERSON WHO HAS JOINED A TRIAD SOCIETY IS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION WHETHER OR NOT HE REMAINS AN ACTIVE TRIAD MEMBER, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

UNDER THE TRIAD RENUNCIATION SCHEME, A SUCCESSFUL RENOUNCER WOULD BE ENTITLED TO A STAY OF PROSECUTION

IN RESPECT OF SPECIFIED OFFENCES RELATING TO TRIAD MEMBERSHIP UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE WHICH PRE-DATED THE RENUNCIATION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DURING CONSULTATION ON THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE DOCUMENT "OPTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEM" THE PUBLIC HAD GENERALLY SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION WHEREBY A TRIAD MEMBER COULD RENOUNCE MEMBERSHIP.

THE AMENDMENT BILL PROVIDES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A FULL-TIME CHAIRMAN AND PART-TIME MEMBERS TO THE TRIBUNAL.

THE PROCEEDINGS AND RECORDS OF THE TRIBUNAL WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

CONSISTING

"THE TRIBUNAL WILL BE SERVED BY A SMALL SECRETARIAT OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, ALL OF WHOM WOULD BE SUBJECT TO STRICT SECRECY PROVISIONS.

"THE SECRETARIAT WOULD INCLUDE A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER WITH EXPERIENCE IN TRIAD MATTERS TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE TRIBUNAL WHERE NECESSARY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

I

UNDER THE AMENDMENT BILL, PERSONS WILL NOT BE ENTITLED ΤΟ REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL. HOWEVER, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS CHILDREN SEEKING RENUNCIATION MAY APPEAR.

"

OF

'WHERE AN APPLICANT FOR RENUNCIATION

IS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TRIAD RELATED ACTIVITIES BUT IS NOT A FORMAL MEMBER OF TRIAD SOCIETY, A FORM OF RECORD OF ATTENDANCE BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL WOULD BE MADE, PROVIDING THE APPLICATION IS JUDGED TO BE SINCERE.

''NON-TRIAD' RENOUNCERS