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FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1993

MR SUEN STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION ΤΟ ENFORCE THE LICENSING SCHEME AS FROM SEPTEMBER 1 WAS A VERY FIRM ONE.

UNDER THE LAW, ANYONE WHO OPERATES A GUESTHOUSE WITHOUT A VALID CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION OR A LICENCE COMMITS AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $200,000, PLUS ANOTHER FINE

OF $20,000 FOR EACH DAY DURING WHICH THE OFFENCE CONTINUES, AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.

ΤΟ

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GUIDELINES ON WITNESS PROTECTION ISSUED

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAD PREPARED GUIDELINES TO PROSECUTING COUNSEL SETTING OUT IN DETAIL THE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES TO BE ADOPTED IN WITNESS PROTECTION CASES, MEMBERS OF THE LEGCO PANEL ON SECURITY WERE TOLD TODAY (FRIDAY).

ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS HAD ISSUED GUIDELINES WHICH WERE TO BE ADOPTED IN WITNESS PROTECTION CASES, NOT ONLY INVOLVING VIETNAMESE BUT ALL WITNESSES WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE TRIAL OF THE DEFENDANT.

MR MATHEWS EMPHASISED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE POLICY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF WITNESS PROTECTION, ALTHOUGH HE HIMSELF AND HIS DEPARTMENT HAD A PART TO PLAY.

HAD A

IT WAS STATED IN THE CIRCULAR THAT PROSECUTING COUNSEL RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVISE AGENCIES AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL WITNESSES IN THE CONDUCT OF A PROSECUTION.

"IF COUNSEL LEARNS THAT THERE IS A POSSIBLE THREAT TO A WITNESS, HE SHOULD MAKE ENQUIRIES AND GIVE ASSISTANCE TO SEE THAT SATISFACTORY WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE BY THE RELEVANT AGENCY," HE SAID.

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A COPY OF SUCH GUIDELINES HAS BEEN SENT TO MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE SECOND PART OF HIS INQUIRY REPORT ON WITNESS PROTECTION, HE ADDED.

ON CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS AND THE RELEVANT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON WITNESS PROTECTION, MR MATHEWS SAID AFTER THE ENDING OF THE ABORTED MURDER TRIAL AND EVEN BEFORE THE KEMPSTER INQUIRY WAS ESTABLISHED, FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, HIS DEPARTMENT HAD ESTABLISHED LIAISON AT A HIGH LEVEL TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF WITNESS PROTECTION.

THE

IN SEVERAL CASES FOLLOWING THIS ONE, THE SECURITY BRANCH, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CRIME, POLICE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS HAD MET TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT PROTECTION WAS GIVEN TO WITNESSES WHO FELT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE IN DANGER.

/THE ATTORNEY