XN000022-1993-09-07 — Page 5

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1993

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**THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOW

WITH THE AGREEMENT OF BOTH THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS NEGOTIATING A NEW NETWORK OF BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON THE SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE OFFENDERS.

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"THE NEW AGREEMENTS WILL REMAIN IN FORCE BEYOND 1997. WILL HELP TO BOLSTER HONG KONG'S REPUTATION AS A PLACE WHERE THE OF LAW PREVAILS WHICH WILL IN TURN SUPPORT OUR STATUS AS A INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRADE AND FINANCE," MR ASPREY SAID.

THEY

RULE

MAJOR

ARE

THE AGREEMENT WITH CANADA CONTAINS SAFEGUARDS WHICH NORMALLY FOUND IN AGREEMENTS GOVERNING THE SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE OFFENDERS:

* THE DOUBLE CRIMINALITY RULE: THE ACT IN RESPECT OF WHICH A FUGITIVE'S RETURN IS REQUESTED MUST CONSTITUTE A CRIME IN BOTH JURISDICTIONS AT THE TIME IT WAS COMMITTED;

*

THE PRIMA FACIE RULE: AGAINST A PERSON WHOSE

THERE MUST BE A PRIMA FACIE CASE RETURN IS REQUESTED;

THE SPECIALITY RULE: A RETURNED FUGITIVE SHOULD NOT BE TRIED FOR OFFENCES OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH HE WAS SURRENDERED; AND

THE POLITICAL OFFENCES RULE: RETURN MAY BE REFUSED OFFENCE IN QUESTION IS A POLITICAL OFFENCE.

IF THE

THE CHINESE SIDE IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ON THE TEXT AND HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE CONTENT

WITH

IT.

RONG

THE AGREEMENT WILL COME INTO FORCE AFTER THE ENACTMENT IN KONG OF A NEW FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE BACKING FOR IT.

IT IS HOPED THAT, FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT YEAR.

INSURANCE OFFERS PATIENTS GREATER CHOICE

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO PROMOTE GREATER FOR PATIENTS IS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL INSURANCE, SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY

CHOICE THE

(TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, MRS WONG NOTED THAT ONLY ABOUT 14 PER CENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE.

"INSURANCE GIVES THESE PEOPLE GREATER CHOICE BY PROVIDING COVERAGE WHICH MAKES TREATMENT BY PRIVATE DOCTORS AND AT PRIVATE HOSPITALS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM,' SHE SAID.

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/MRS WONG

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