XN000022-1993-11-17 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993

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AS A RESULT OF OUR EFFORTS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WILLING TO DONATE THEIR ORGANS AFTER DEATH HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING IN RECENT YEARS. WHERE IN 1989 ONLY ONE IN TEN PEOPLE WAS WILLING TO DONATE, THE FIGURE HAS NOW RISEN TO AN AVERAGE OF ONE IN THREE. COMPARED WITH 1991, THE NUMBER OF CARD-CARRYING DONORS HAS NOW DOUBLED. HOWEVER, WHILST MANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DONATE, THEIR RELATIVES OFTEN FRUSTRATE THIS BY OBJECTING. TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM, I URGE RELATIVES TO RESPECT THE DONOR'S WISHES. DOCTORS HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REMOVE ORGAN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WISHES TO DONATE. IN TURN, PEOPLE WHO WISH TO DONATE SHOULD OBTAIN A DONOR CARD. THEY SHOULD SIGN IT AND SHOW IT TO THEIR RELATIVES AS PROOF OF THEIR WISH TO DONATE. THEY SHOULD CARRY THEIR DONOR CARD WITH THEIR ID CARD OR DRIVING LICENSE WHEREVER THEY GO. LIKE THE HONOURABLE MR HUI YIN-FAT I ALSO CARRY AN ORGAN DONATION CARD SIGNED BY MYSELF.

WE NEED MORE DONORS, BUT WE WANT ONLY WILLING ONES. WE WANT TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY WHICH DONATES BECAUSE IT CARES. WE DO NOT WANT A SYSTEM WHICH FORCES PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL. ONLY BY WORKING TOGETHER WITHIN THE EXISTING ORGAN DONATION SYSTEM CAN WE ALL HELP TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. I AM SURE THAT THROUGH TODAY'S DEBATE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO AROUSE MORE POPULAR SUPPORT FOR ORGAN DONATION AND SHOW THAT HONG KONG REALLY IS A CARING COMMUNITY.

I AM MOST GRATEFUL TO MEMBERS FOR EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS AND OPINIONS IN THIS COUNCIL TODAY. I WILL GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO HOW BEST ORGAN DONATION CAN BE PROMOTED, AND CONSULTED AS NECESSARY TO FIND WAYS THAT ARE SUITABLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.

P+

BY

HEAVY PENALTY FOR SMUGGLERS

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A BILL THAT SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY TO TACKLE SMUGGLING MAKING THE MAJOR SMUGGLING OFFENCES TRIABLE ON INDICTMENT WITH INCREASED MAXIMUM PENALTIES IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORTS (AMENDMENT) NO. 2) BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID THE BILL PROPOSED THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES OF SEVEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $2 MILLION FOR MAJOR SMUGGLING OFFENCES.

THE EXISTING PENALTIES OF TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $500,000 FOR SUMMARY CONVICTION WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED, MR ASPREY SAID.

THE CURRENT PENALTIES WERE INADEQUATE FOR SERIOUS SMUGGLING OFFENCES AND DID NOT PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT DETERRENT, HE EXPLAINED.

"SMUGGLING CAUSES SERIOUS SECURITY PROBLEMS TO HONG KONG FEEDING ORGANISED CRIME, GENERATING CAR THEFT AND POSING A DANGER LEGITIMATE MARINE TRAFFIC," HE SAID.

TO

/MEASURES INCLUDING