XN000022-1993-03-31 — Page 63

47

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993

"THIS WILL NOT

ONLY

IMPROVE

THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE DETERMINATION OF APPEALS, BUT WILL ALSO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, SIR DAVID SAID.

THE BOARD WOULD COMPRISE PEOPLE WITH LEGAL EXPERTISE AND A WIDE SPECTRUM OF EXPERIENCE TO ENABLE IT TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY.

THE CHAIRMAN, DEPUTY CHAIRMEN, PANEL MEMBERS AND THE WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

SECRETARY

THE CHAIRMAN AND DEPUTY CHAIRMEN WILL BE LEGALLY PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.

QUALIFIED

THE PANEL

OF MEMBERS WILL BE APPOINTED FROM PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH THE CAPABILITY TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

-

1993/94

BROADCASTING BILL PLANNED FOR 1993/94

* *

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE A BROADCASTING BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO BRING TOGETHER, IN A SINGLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, PROVISIONS AFFECTING THE WHOLE RANGE OF SOUND AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING,

IN DRAWING UP THE BILL, THE GOVERNMENT WILL EXAMINE APPROPRIATENESS OF PENALTIES WHICH THE BROADCAS CING AUTHORITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO IMPOSE.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO EXAMINE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WHETHER APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS OF THE RA SHOULD BE DEVOLVED THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND HEARD BY AN INDEPENDENT BODY.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY} BY THE SECRETARY RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON TELEVISION (AMENDMENT) HILL 1993 (TAB) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE (BA)

BILL FROM

FOR

THE

MR SO NOTED THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE BILLS COMMITTEE ON THE TAB, WHILE AGREEING THE BA'S ABILITY TO IMPOSE FINANCIAL PENALTIES ON LICENSEES IS A SIMPLE AND SPEEDY SANCTION AGAINST TRANSGRESSION, WERE OF THE VIEW THAT, AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, SUCH POWER SHOULD MORE APPROPRIATELY BE VESTED WITH THE COURTS.

AM

OF

THE

** [

OF THE VIEW THAT THE WHOLE QUESTION APPROPRIATENESS OF ANY OF THE PENALTIES WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED BY A REGULATORY BODY SUCH AS THE BA SHOULD BEST НЕ EXAMINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN A WIDER CONTEXT, AND NOT BE DEALT WITH IN ISOLATION IN RELATION TO TELEVISION BROADCASTING ALONE IN THIS BILL, HE SAID.

"IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS AND UNIFORMITY OF TREATMENT, ANY CHANGES TO THE PENALTY SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE INTRODUCED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND BE APPLIED TO THE INDUSTRY ACROSS THE BOARD, HE

++

ADDED.

/MK 50