XN000022-1992-02-26 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1992

CLAUSE 6 SOUGHT TO AMEND SECTION 30 OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER BE AN OFFENCE TO DISCLOSE THE

IDENTITY OF

A PERSON WHO WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION OR THE DETAILS OF THAT INVESTIGATION AFTER THAT PERSON HAD BEEN ARRESTED.

MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE PROHIBITION ON PRE-ARREST DISCLOSURE SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED.

"WE BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR THIS PROHIBITION TO REMAIN.

....

"FIRSTLY, GIVEN THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF INVESTIGATIONS OF CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS, PREMATURE DISCLOSURE CAN COMPROMISE THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION PROCESS.

"SECONDLY, THE REPUTATION OF THE PERSON UNDER INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE PROTECTED, PARTICULARLY IN CASES WHERE NO CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT," SAID MR MATHEWS.

ON THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992, CLAUSE 2 WOULD REPEAL THOSE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 100 OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WHICH PRESENTLY ENABLED AN OFFICER AUTHORISED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION TO DETAIN ANY PERSON FOUND IN THE PREMISES OR PLACE WHICH HE WAS EMPOWERED TO SEARCH.

CLAUSE 3 WOULD REPEAL THAT PART OF SECTION 13 OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WHICH EMPOWERED THE COMMISSIONER TO REQUIRE ANY PERSON ΤΟ PROVIDE HIM WITH ANY INFORMATION WHICH HE CONSIDERED NECESSARY.

DEBATES ON THE TWO BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.

AMENDMENT OF ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES LAW

TO MEET INT'L HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

A BILL SEEKING TO AMEND THE ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES (CONTROL) ORDINANCE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES (CONTROL) (AMENDMENT} BILL 1992, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID THE AMENDMENTS FOLLOWED, AND WERE SIMILAR ΤΟ, THOSE IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1992.

THE SECRETARY SAID THE BILL ALSO PROPOSED TO SUBSTITUTE A NEW SECTION 10, SO AS TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF PRESUMPTIONS CONCERNING POSSESSION OF ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES, AND TO DELETE SECTION 11, SO AS TO REPEAL THE PRESUMPTION CONCERNING MANUFACTURING.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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