XN000022-1992-10-23 — Page 26

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1992

"RECENT TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STATISTICS, HOWEVER, SHOW THAT FROM 1978 TO 1990, THE PERCENTAGE OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY PEDESTRIAN NEGLIGENCE RANGED FROM 20.3 PER CENT TO 25.7 PER CENT ONLY, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

"AS THE PERCENTAGE OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY PEDESTRIAN NEGLIGENCE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THE EARLIER FIGURES OF 30-35 PER CENT, WE CONSIDER THAT THERE IS A CASE TO REVISE THE CONTRIBUTION FROM GENERAL REVENUE TO THE SCHEME TO REFLECT MORE ACCURATELY THE PEDESTRIANS' PART IN CAUSING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS."

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE SAVINGS ACHIEVED WOULD BE USED то IMPROVE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AND THAT THE REVISION WOULD NOT AFFECT THE LEVEL OF PAYMENT TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS.

FORESTS AND COUNTRYSIDE ORDINANCE TO BE UPDATED

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO AMEND SOME PROVISIONS OF THE FORESTS AND COUNTRYSIDE ORDINANCE TO BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THE PRESENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE FORESTS AND COUNTRYSIDE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 WHICH SEEKS TO INTRODUCE THE CHANGES HAS BEEN GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

AN

ONE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES PROPOSED IS THE REMOVAL OF COLLECTIVE LIABILITY IMPOSED ON INHABITANTS OF ANY VILLAGE OR AREA COMMITTING OFFENCE OF FELLING, CUTTING, BURNING, DAMAGING OR DESTROYING TREES GOVERNMENT LANDS.

ON

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID SUCH A FORM OF COLLECTIVE LIABILITY WAS UNDESIRABLE UNDER THE PRESENT SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE ABOLISHED.

INSTEAD, THE BILL SUGGESTS THE ADDITION OF A NEW PROVISION TO SPELL OUT MORE CLEARLY THE ACTS PROHIBITED IN FORESTS AND PLANTATIONS, MAKING IT AN OFFENCE TO FELL, CUT, BURN OR DESTROY ANY TREE OR GROWING PLANT.

HOWEVER, FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PURPOSES, ACTS SUCH AS CUTTING GRASS AND REMOVING TURF OR EARTH ARE SOMETIMES REQUIRED.

AND

THE BILL THEREFORE PROPOSES THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE FISHERIES BE EMPOWERED TO ISSUE SPECIAL PERMITS FOR SUCH

ACTIVITIES.

SEEKS TO

TO ENHANCE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LEGISLATION, THE BILL REPEAL THE PROVISION ON POWER OF ARREST AND SUBSTITUTES IT WITH MORE DETAILED PROVISIONS ABOUT POWERS OF INSPECTION, SEARCH, ARREST AND SEIZURE BY AUTHORISED OFFICERS.

ON THE LEVEL OF FINES, THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR THE OFFENCE, WAS LAST REVISED IN 1948, WILL BE RAISED FROM $2,000 TO $25,000.

WHICH

/A MAXIMUM