XN000022-1990-05-16 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1990

EFFECT GIVEN TO COMMISSION'S MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

*

WAS WHICH EFFECT ΤΟ REPORT PUBLISHED

AGE) BILL 1989, THE LAW REFORM (LEGAL EFFECTS OF PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), GIVES THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF A LAW REFORM COMMISSION IN 1986.

GENERAL, THE HON WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE ATTORNEY

AGE JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID THE COMMISSION'S REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT THE

LEGAL CAPACITY SHOULD, FOR MOST ATTAINED FULL AT WHICH A PERSON PURPOSES, BE REDUCED FROM 21 TO 18.

то

OF

THE NATURAL

SHORT IN

ADULT NORMAL AGE OF 21

THE

LIFE

WAS

NO

"THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION ATTAINED IN HONG KONG, THE ATTITUDE

LIVING, ITS PEOPLE TO WORK AND

EARNING ONE'S

GO INTO BUSINESS, ASPIRATION TO OWN PROPERTY AND TO

OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON

ARBITRARY THE INDICATED TO THE COMMISSION THAT LONGER APPROPRIATE," MR MATHEWS SAID.

HOLDING ACQUIRING,

OF THE AND EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENTLY WILLS AND COMPANIES," HE

"

"IN MEETING THAT RECOMMENDATION THIS BILL REMOVES SOME

PROHIBIT MINORS FROM WHICH IMPEDIMENTS

AND

PROPERTY DISPOSING OF REAL

PERSONAL CHANGES TO THE LAW RELATING TO CONTRACTS, SAID.

CHANGES

OF

WHICH WOULD BE HE ADDED THAT OTHER LEGISLATIVE NECESSARY TO OTHER AREAS OF THE LAW BECAUSE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF DISPARATE SUBJECTS.

ABLE TO ON THE QUESTION OF THE AGE AT WHICH PERSONS SHOULD BE

COMMISSION'S REPORT VOTE AND STAND FOR ELECTION, MR MATHEWS SAID THE

REGARD, TAKING THE VIEW

THIS MADE NO RECOMMENDATION IN THIS ASPECT WAS OUTSIDE ITS REMIT.

THAT

"THE QUESTION HAS NEVERTHELESS CONSIDERATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

BEEN GIVEN

THOROUGH

YEAR

THE CHIEF

ON MARCH 21 THIS "AS MEMBERS WILL RECALL, SECRETARY MADE A STATEMENT IN THIS COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE.

"HE

WERE FINELY BALANCED, ARGUMENTS THE

AND CONSIDERATIONS, COMPETING

INFORMED HAD ADMINISTRATION

DECIDED STAY AT

21,

BUT THAT THE VOTING AGE TO 18 IN

CIRCUMSTANCES

THE

RECOGNISED THAT ADDRESSED MEMBERS AS TO THE THEM THAT IN ALL THE THAT THE VOTING AGE SHOULD, FOR THE PRESENT, CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO LOWERING 1995, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.

++

MR MATHEWS SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT EXTENT OF THE CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE BILL.

HE SAID THAT 18-YEAR-OLD COMPANY DIRECTORS NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE IN FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.

THE

OR TRUSTEES WOULD

/"PART III