XN000022-1988-12-14 — Page 8

6.

-

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988

:

THAT

SHORT OF IMPOSING A ON POLLING DAY, SERIOUS THE BUFFER ZONE OUTSIDE

"BUT A COMMON VIEW APPEARED TO BE TOTAL BAN ON ALL ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EXPANDING POLLING STATIONS AND TO STRENGTHENING CROWD CONTROL OUTSIDE POLLING STATIONS," HE SAID.

A BALANCE WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO BE STRUCK,

ON THE ONE HAND, THERE WAS THE RISK OF ALLOWING EXCESSIVE ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES TO BECOME A DISINCENTIVE TO VOTERS OR OF CREATING POTENTIAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN CANDIDATES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WAS THE NEED то GENERATE A GOOD ATMOSPHERE ON POLLING DAY AND THUS IMPROVE VOTER TURNOUT.

ENDORSEMENT FOR INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY * * * * *

THE FACT THAT THE PROPOSAL то PROVIDE SEPARATE PENSIONS LEGISLATION FOR THE JUDICIARY HAS WON THE SUPPORT OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND ACCEPTANCE BY THE COMMUNITY IS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THE JUDICIARY SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE, BOTH IN SUBSTANCE AND IN STRUCTURE.

THE HON MARIA TAM SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE PENSION BENEFITS (JUDICIAL OFFICERS) BILL 1988.

MISS TAM, CONVENER OF A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL. SAID THE AD HOC GROUP SUPPORTED THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT STRUCTURE ON PAY AND PENSION BENEFITS FOR THE JUDICIARY AND SAW THE BILL AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SHE SAID THE PROPOSED JUDICIARY PENSION SCHEME WAS MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THE NEW PENSION SCHEME FOR CIVIL SERVANTS IN CERTAIN RESPECTS.

OFFICERS WHO

WHEN BETWEEN 50 AND 65 YEARS OF AGE JUDICIARY WERE APPOINTED OR REAPPOINTED AFTER JULY 1, 1987 WOULD EARN PENSION AT DOUBLE THE STANDARD PENSION EARNINGS RATE.

JUDICIAL OFFICERS WHO RETIRED EARLY ON GROUNDS OF ILL HEALTH WERE GUARANTEED A MINIMUM PENSION EQUIVALENT TO ONE QUARTER OF SALARY.

THESE PROPOSALS