XN000022-1991-06-26 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1991

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AMENDMENT TO LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, MOVED AN AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 5(A)(III) OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 DURING COMMITTEE STAGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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HE EXPLAINED THAT CLAUSE 5(A) (III) PERMITTED PERSONS WHO WERE ADMITTED AS SOLICITORS IN HONG KONG AND WHO HAD PRACTISED HERE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS TO APPLY TO BE ADMITTED TO THE BAR.

ADMITTED AS

"THIS OPPORTUNITY IS NOT AFFORDED TO PERSONS SOLICITORS IN HONG KONG AND WHO ARE LEGAL OFFICERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH THESE LEGAL OFFICERS PERFORM WORK COMPARABLE TO THAT OF SOLICITORS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, MR MATHEWS SAID.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE AMENDMENT, A FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS HAD BEEN ADMITTED AS A KONG AND HAD PRACTISED HERE EITHER AS A SOLICITOR SERVICE WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO THE

THE AMENDMENT HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE BAR

SOCIETY.

LEGAL OFFICER WHO SOLICITOR IN HONG OR. IN GOVERNMENT BAR.

ASSOCIATION

AND LAW

THE BILL WAS PASSED WITH THE ABOVE AMENDMENT.

STAMP DUTY BILL INTRODUCED

THE STAMP DUTY { AMENDMENT} (NO. 3) BILL 1991 SEEKS TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREND TOWARDS PAPERLESS TRADING IN STOCK DEALING IN HONG KONG BY ENDING THE USE OF PHYSICAL PAPER STAMPS.

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THIS WAS STATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SIR PIERS SAID THE AMENDMENT WOULD ENABLE THE COLLECTOR OF STAMP DUTIES TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE STOCK EXCHANGE FOR THE CENTRAL COLLECTION OF DUTY PAYABLE.

SIR PIERS ALSO NOTED THAT UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, AUTHORISED OFFICERS OF THE EXCHANGE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENDORSE CONTRACT NOTES TO SIGNIFY THAT DUTY HAD OR WOULD BE PAID TO THE COLLECTOR AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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