XN000022-1989-10-18 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1989

"IT WOULD BE QUITE IMPROPER FOR ME TO ENTER UPON A DEBATE NOW ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE OR ON THE ISSUES OF LAW.

"AS HAS OFTEN BEEN STATED IN THIS COUNCIL, QUESTIONS

OF GUILT OR INNOCENCE ARE QUESTIONS TO BE DETERMINED IN A COURT OF LAW, WHERE AN ACCUSED HAS THE RIGHT TO PUT HIS SIDE OF THE CASE IN WITH ESTABLISHED PROCEDURE.'

ACCORDANCE

AT SOME ADDRESSED

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONTINUED: "I HAVE NOW EXPLAINED LENGTH THE STEPS TAKEN BY ME AND IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE THOSE AREAS WHICH HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SPECIFIC CONCERN.

"OUTSIDE COUNSEL WAS CONSULTED AND ALL THE PAPERS WERE SUBMITTED TO HIM.

"THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE IN THE POLICE INVESTIGATION."

ANY SUGGESTION THAT MR HARRIS WAS NOT PROSECUTED BECAUSE OF THE POSITION HE HELD WAS ENTIRELY WITHOUT FOUNDATION,

MR MATHEWS STRESSED.

"THE ORIGINAL DECISION NOT TO RISE TO MUCH PUBLIC CONCERN,

IT ALSO ACTIONS AND DECISIONS," HE SAID.

PROSECUTE HAS NOT

HAD A BEARING ON

ONLY GIVEN SUBSEQUENT

NOT TO

"IT IS THEREFORE REGRETTABLE THAT THE DECISION PROSECUTE WAS BASED ON LEGAL ADVICE WHICH, IN THE EVENT, HAS PROVED TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THAT MORE RECENTLY RECEIVED.

H

"I WISH TO MAKE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT I BEAR FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VIEWS OF THE LAW TAKEN AND FOR ALL CONSEQUENT DECISIONS.

"

NINE-YEAR REQUIREMENT FOR UNCONDITIONAL STAY BEING REVIEWED

ORDINARILY THAN NINE

THE REQUIREMENT FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS TO HAVE BEEN RESIDENT IN HONG KONG FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF NOT LESS YEARS BEFORE THEY CAN APPLY FOR UNCONDITIONAL STAY IN HONG KONG IS BEING REVIEWED.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON DAVID LI.

THE REVIEW WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, HE ADDED.

HE SAID THAT IN KEEPING WITH THE DEFINITION OF PERMANENT RESIDENT OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE NINE-YEAR TIME LIMIT WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR REDUCTION TO SEVEN YEARS.

/MR BARNES