XN000022-1993-01-13 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1993

EFFORTS TO HELP ACCUSED UNDERSTAND CHARGES

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF BILINGUAL CHARGE SHEETS FOR ACCUSED PERSONS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SIMON IP SIK-ON TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR ASPREY SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT AN ACCUSED PERSON SHOULD UNDERSTAND FULLY THE MATTER WITH WHICH HE WAS CHARGED.

THE

"THERE ARE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME, IN PARTICULAR THE PREPARATION OF PRECISE AND ACCURATE TRANSLATION OF CHARGES IN ABSENCE OF A CHINESE VERSION OF ALL THE LAWS OF HONG KONG.

WITH

"HOWEVER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS ARE PROGRESSING THE BILINGUAL LEGISLATION PROGRAMME AND WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ ACCORD PRIORITY TO THIS IMPORTANT TASK," HE SAID.

AT PRESENT, CHARGE SHEETS ARE PREPARED BY THE POLICE IN

ENGLISH.

FOR AN ACCUSED PERSON WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, AN INTERPRETER IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO EXPLAIN THE CHARGE TO HIM IN A LANGUAGE WHICH HE UNDERSTANDS.

THE POLICE HAVE A DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE ACCUSED UNDERSTANDS THE CHARGE, MR ASPREY SAID.

BALANCE SHEET OF EXCHANGE FUND PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

THE ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERED NOT NECESSARY FOR THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE EXCHANGE FUND TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY POR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR NENDICK SAID THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE EXCHANGE FUND WERE AUDITED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT AND A BALANCE SHEET OF THE EXCHANGE FUND WAS PUBLISHED ANNUALLY.

THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE EXCHANGE FUND SHOWED THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE FUND, THE AMOUNT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES HELD, THE LIABILITIES AND THE ACCUMULATED EARNINGS OF THE FUND.

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