XN000022-1991-05-15 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1991

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HE SAID THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP'S STUDY HAD RESULTED IN PROPOSING AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT TO ALLOW SPOUSES AND COHABITERS ΤΟ BE GRANTED, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AN EXEMPTION BY THE COURT ROM TESTIFYING.

EXPLAINING THE LEGAL EFFECT OF THE INCLUSION OF THE PROPOSED EXEMPTION FOR COHABITEES, HE SAID THE AMENDMENT WOULD NOT GIVE COHABITEES AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT TO EXEMPTION FROM TESTIFYING IN RESPECT OF ALL OFFENCES.

THEY, UNLIKE SPOUSES, WOULD STILL BE COMPETENT AND COMPELLABLE ΤΟ TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION IN RESPECT OF ALL OFFENCES. ONLY FOR THOSE OFFENCES WHICH INVOLVED SERIOUS VIOLENCE WITHIN THE FAMILY OR RELATIONSHIP, WOULD THEY BE AFFORDED THE SAME RIGHT AS SPOUSES TO SEEK AN EXEMPTION.

BEFORE GRANTING A COHABITEE AN EXEMPTION, THE COURT WOULD HAVE TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COHABITEE AND THE DEFENDANT WAS AKIN TO HUSBAND AND WIFE.

MR MATHEWS SAID THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT DID NOT DETRACT FROM THE ORIGINAL AIMS OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION AND INTENTIONS OF THE BILL. IT SET OUT CLEARLY THE CRITERIA THAT MUST BE APPLIED BY THE COURT WHEN DECIDING TO GIVE AN EXEMPTION TO A SPOUSE OR COHABITEE.

HE SAID THE BILL RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE SOCIETY PLACED UPON THE FAMILY, WHILE SEEKING TO ASSIST IN DETERRING AND PUNISHING THOSE WHO ARE DESTRUCTIVE OF THE FAMILY.

AIRPORT EXPENDITURE RELEASES

THE

IN AIRPORT

NEW

AIRPORT AND ITS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OCTOBER 1989 IS $619.6 JACOBS, SAID IN

THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON RELATED KEY PROJECTS UP TO MARCH 31 THIS YEAR SINCE OF THE DECISION TO BUILD THE MILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TABLED A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE FOLLOWS:

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON KINGSLEY SIT, SIR PIERS

EXPENDITURE AS AT MARCH 31 AS

ALSO

CUMULATIVE

EXPENDITURE

($MILLION)

CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT

108.0 (1)

*

TUNG CHUNG DEVELOPMENT (PHASE 1)

15.4

*

NORTH LANTAU EXPRESSWAY

26.3

LANTAU FIXED CROSSING

102.1

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