XN000022-1993-11-03 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1993

THERE ARE NO PERCEIVABLE BENEFITS IN OPERATING AN INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY SYSTEM UNDER THE SAME ROOF, MR LEUNG SAID.

CONCLUDING, THE SECRETARY SAID HE SAW NO GOOD REASON, BUT INSTEAD A LOT OF DOWNSIDE RISKS, IN THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A CENTRAL COMPENSATION FUND FOR EMPLOYEES WHICH WOULD "TURN A COMPETITIVE MARKET SYSTEM INTO A CENTRAL MONOPOLY”.

"WHY SHOULD WE FOLLOW THE MUDDY FOOT-STEPS WHICH ARE BUSILY BEING ABANDONED ELSEWHERE?" HE ASKED.

IT WOULD INDEED BE A

"THIS IS NOT THE HONG KONG WAY. SIGNIFICANT STEP BACKWARDS IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THE MOTION.

LOCALISING STATE SECRETS-RELATED LAWS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS A PROGRAMME FOR LOCALISING CERTAIN UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS WHICH NOW APPLY TO HONG KONG AND WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY HERE, SUBJECT TO CHANGES, AFTER JUNE 30, 1997.

IT ALSO HAS A PROGRAMME ΤΟ ADAPT HONG KONG LAWS 30 THAT THEY WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW ON JULY 1, 1997, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

LOCAL LEGISLATION TO REPLACE THE UK OFFICIAL SECRETS ACTS HAS NOT YET BEEN, AND IS NOT YET BEING, DRAFTED, HE NOTED.

"HOWEVER, WE HAVE DONE SOME WORK ON THIS SUBJECT, AND I EXPECT TO PUT PROPOSALS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,' HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO REVIEWING THE PROVISIONS IN THE CRIMES ORDINANCE RELATING TO TREASON AND OTHER OFFENCES AGAINST THE CROWN.

AGAIN, PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

"WE

WILL WISH IN DUB COURSE TO DISCUSS THESE MATTERS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT," MR ASPREY SAID.

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