XN000022-1993-02-17 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1993

12

THE

COMPANY HAS NOT YET DECIDED WHETHER TO REBUILD THE DAMAGED IN THE EXPLOSION.

SYSTEM

REGARDING THE REPORT OF THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL INVESTIGATION CONCLUSION HEADED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR ASPREY SAID ITS

BY THE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION WAS SIMILAR TO THAT REACHED COMPANY.

HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE, HOWEVER, SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ITS FINDINGS AND THOSE OF THE COMPANY'S REPORT.

A DEATH INQUEST WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN THE SECOND HALF OF APRIL IN LOOK INTO THE CAUSES OF THE DEATHS OF THE TWO EMPLOYEES KILLED THE EXPLOSION.

ΤΟ

IN THE COURSE OF THIS INQUEST, THE CORONER AND HIS JURORS CONSIDER THE EVIDENCE CONTAINED IN THESE TWO REPORTS.

WILL

"UNTIL

GROUP

THE COMPLETION OF THIS INQUEST, AND ANY LEGAL PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE INITIATED, PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT

ΤΟ THE

WOULD BE PREJUDICIAL INTER-DEPARTMENTAL

THE

OTHER RELATED OF PARTIES

||

INVOLVED, MR ASPREY SAID.

PENALTY FOR ORAL SEX CRIME ADEQUATE

THE EXISTING PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE OF INDECENT ADEQUATE TO TACKLE THE CRIME OF FORCING ANOTHER PERSON ORAL SEX, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PEGGY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID THAT A SEPARATE OFFENCE OF THE ACT WAS NECESSARY.

ASSAULT IS TO PERFORM SAID TODAY

LAM IN THE NOT CONSIDER

"THE PRESENT LAW HAS NOT CAUSED DIFFICULTIES IN RELATION ΤΟ THE CHARGING OR SENTENCING OF SUCH OFFENDERS: NOR IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT SEXUAL OFFENCES OF THIS SORT ARE INCREASING, HE SAID.

I

AT PRESENT, A PERSON WHO FORCES ANOTHER PERSON TO PERFORM ORAL SEX, BUT COMMITS NO OTHER VIOLENCE, IS CHARGED WITH INDECENT ASSAULT UNDER THE CRIMES ORDINANCE.

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THIS OFFENCE IS 10 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. THIS PENALTY WAS INCREASED FROM FIVE YEARS IN 1991.

HOWEVER, MR ASPREY SAID AN ANALYSIS OF PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING THE OFFENCE SHOWED THAT IT WAS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER SEXUAL OFFENCES, SUCH AS RAPE OR ATTEMPTED RAPE.

"IN SENTENCING OFFENDERS WHO FORCE OTHERS TO PERFORM ORAL SEX, THE COURT IS BOUND TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE ACTIONS OF THE OFFENDERS," HE SAID.

/AS WITH

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