XN000022-1993-02-17 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17,

1993

OF

PERSONS AGED

HE SAID THE

UNDER NUMBER PROSECUTED FOR HEROIN OFFENCES INCREASED FROM 285 IN 1990 1991 AND TO 303 IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS LAST YEAR.

21

WHO TO 332

WERE IN

FOR MINOR DRUG THE PROPORTION OF THESE OFFENDERS PROSECUTED

POSSESSION OR SMOKING/CONSUMPTION OF OFFENCES, WHICH INCLUDE SIMPLE

ΤΟ 61.7% IN 1991 AND THE DRUG, HAD INCREASED FROM 40.4% IN 1990 TO 79.2% IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS LAST YEAR.

OF

PROPORTION ᏢᎪᎡᎢ . A RESULT OF THE CONCERNING POSSESSION

THAT HE EXPLAINED

THE INCREASE IN THE PROSECUTIONS FOR MINOR DRUG OFFENCES WAS IN REPEAL, IN

SEPTEMBER 1991, OF PRESUMPTIONS DANGEROUS DRUGS FOR TRAFFICKING, IN THE DANGEROUS DRUG ORDINANCE.

OF

WERB SENTENCED ΤΟ A TREATMENT

OR CENTRE

HE SAID THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CONVICTED PERIOD OF DETENTION IN A DRUG ADDICTION PROBATION.

THE PROPORTION SENTENCED INCREASED FROM 46.6% IN 1990 TO IN 1991 AND TO 69.4% IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1992.

THIS

CONSISTENT IS

WITH

THE

TO

55.2%

IN INCREASE

THE PROPORTION CONVICTED OF MINOR DRUG OFFENCES OVER THE SAME PERIOD, HE ADDED.

0

—

TV PROGRAMMES GOVERNED BY CODES

THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS IN THE TELEVISION CODES OF PRACTICE GOVERNING THE TIMING, FORM AND NATURE UNDER WHICH MATTERS ABOUT FORTUNE-TELLING, SUPERNATURALISM, SPIRITUALISM, EVIL SPIRITS AND WEIRD PHENOMENA MAY BE COVERED ON TV PROGRAMMES, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, SAID.

THE

AIM IS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ANXIETY OR FEAR CAUSED BY SUCH SUBJECTS, HE ADDED.

"FOR EXAMPLE, NO SUCH SUBJECTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE COVERED IN PROGRAMMES BROADCAST DURING FAMILY VIEWING HOURS AND ADVERTISEMENTS ON FORTUNE-TELLERS AND THE LIKE ARE PROHIBITED, MR SO SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN THE CODES OF PRACTICE RESTRICTING MATERIAL LIKELY то MISLEAD, ALARM, FRIGHTEN OR

BE INJURIOUS TO COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, WITH PARTICULAR RESTRICTIONS ON MATERIAL LIKELY TO UPSET CHILDREN.

"ANY TV STATION FOUND TO HAVE BREACHED THESE CODES IS LIABLE TO SANCTIONS BY THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY."

UNDESIRABLE MATTERS MAY

THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT WHICH INAPPROPRIATE COVERAGE OF SUCH HAVE ON THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN, BY COMPLAINTS MADE ΤΟ THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY.

/HOWEVER, MR