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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1988

LICENSING CONTROL ON GAS-POWERED WEAPONS

BY

UNDER REGULATIONS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), WEAPONS POWERED GAS OR COMPRESSED GASES ARE BROUGHT CLEARLY UNDER THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AS IN THE CASE OF AIR-POWERED WEAPONS.

THE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (DECLARATION OF ARMS) REGULATIONS 1988 HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL UNDER THE FIREARMS AMMUNITION ORDINANCE.

THE REGULATIONS STATE CLEARLY THAT, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, RIFLE, GUN OR PISTOL WHICH USES COMPRESSED GAS OR GASES PROPELLANT, IS COVERED BY THE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ORDINANCE.

AND

ANY

AS A

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "UNTIL RECENTLY, THE TERM 'AIR RIFLE, AIR GUN OR AIR PISTOL' WAS INTERPRETED TO COVER SIMILAR WEAPONS POWERED BY COMPRESSED GAS.

"BUT THE UNITED KINGDOM COURT OF APPEAL HAS RULED THAT COMPRESSED GAS IS NOT, STRICTLY SPEAKING, COMPRESSED AIR.

"THIS RULING IMPLIES THAT THE CURRENT LICENSING REQUIREMENT FOR 'AIR' WEAPONS COULD NOT APPLY TO WEAPONS POWERED BY A COMPRESSED GAS OR COMBINATION OF GASES OTHER THAN AIR.

"ALTHOUGH 'LETHAL' WEAPONS POWERED BY COMPRESSED GAS COME UNDER THE DEFINITION OF 'FIREARMS IN THE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ORDINANCE AND ARE SUBJECT TO LICENSING REQUIREMENT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROVE THAT THE LESS POWERFUL TYPES OF GAS-POWERED WEAPON ARE 'LETHAL', EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE ABLE TO INFLICT PAINFUL INJURIES."

LADY WILSON OPENS FLORA AND FAUNA SHOW

* * * * *

NORTH EMBODIES FAUNA OF

LADY WILSON THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING OPENED THE SECOND DISTRICT (1988) FLOWER, BIRD, INSECT AND FISH SHOW, WHICH BOTH UNCOMMON AND BEAUTIFUL SPECIES OF THE FLORA AND DIFFERENT PLACES.

SHE ALSO PRESENTED AN OVERALL CHAMPION TROPHY FOR EXHIBIT IN THE FLOWER SECTION.

THE BEST

INCLUDED DIRECTOR

COMMANDER/NEW

DISTRICT

THOSE ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR MICHAEL SUEN; OF REGIONAL SERVICES, MR HAIDER BARMA; DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE:

POLICE REGIONAL TERRITORIES, MR RICHARD SMALLSHAW;

J

CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH

BOARD, MR RAYMOND PANG; AND NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM HUI.

/HIGHLIGHTS OF

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