XN000022-1990-05-16 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1990

5

AGE LIMIT CHANGE BEARS GREAT IMPLICATIONS

* *

THE CHANGING FROM 21 TO 18 AT WHICH A PERSON ATTAINED FULL CAPACITY SHOULD CARRY MORE IMPLICATIONS THAN JUST LEGAL EFFECT, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IT WAS IF ANYTHING MORE OF A SOCIAL ISSUE THAN A

HE SAID.

LEGAL ISSUE,

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LAW REFORM (LEGAL EFFECTS OF AGE) BILL 1989, MR CHEONG SAID HE DID NOT SUPPORT THE BILL BECAUSE MOST OF THE 18-YEAR-OLD YOUTHS MIGHT NOT BE MATURE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MAKE INDEPENDENT DECISIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE PROFOUND EFFECT EITHER ON THEMSELVES OR ON OTHERS IN THE SOCIETY.

HE SAID YOUTHS HAD LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE 18 AND THE LIMITED SOCIAL INTERACTION WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE MATURING PROCESS OF YOUTH.

"THEREFORE, I AM OF THE VIEW THAT, BY AND LARGE, A 21-YEAR-OLD WILL HAVE HAD MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE EXPERIENCE TO BECOME MORE MATURE THAN AN 18-YEAR-OLD," HE SAID.

MR CHEONG POINTED OUT THAT UNDER SECTION 109A OF THE CRIMINAL BETWEEN 16 PROCEDURES ORDINANCE, NO COURT SHOULD SENTENCE A PERSON

COURT FOUND THAT AND 21 YEARS OF AGE TO IMPRISONMENT UNLESS THE

NO OTHER METHOD OF DEALING WITH SUCH PERSON WAS APPROPRIATE.

"MY VIEW IS THAT IF A PERSON UNDER 21 IS NOT CONSIDERED OLD ENOUGH AND MATURE ENOUGH ΤΟ ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, THE SAME LOGIC SHOULD APPLY FOR CIVIL LAW," HE SAID.

MR CHEONG SAID HE FOUND MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES SHARED HIS SENTIMENT AND REASONING ON THE ISSUE ALTHOUGH THEY DECIDED TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

HE NOTED THAT THESE MEMBERS GAVE THEIR SUPPORT ΤΟ THE BILL BECAUSE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN THE BILL, NAMELY MARRIAGE AND IN THE AGE AND VOTING AGE, WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROVISIONS, INTEREST OF STABILITY.

"WHILST I SALUTE MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING SO UNDERSTANDING OF

DIPLOMACY IN THE NEED FOR COMPROMISE AND QUIET

HONG KONG, I MUST

CAUTION

THAT THE ADMINISTRATION

ANY FUTURE

ON LEGISLATION

THIS SUBJECT SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH GREAT CAUTION.

"MY HUMBLE ADVICE IS THAT BEFORE THE QUESTIONS OF MARRIAGE AGE CONSULTATION WITH AND VOTING AGE ARE TO BE BROUGHT TO THIS COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, SHOULD BE WIDELY HELD,' HE SAID.

/6