XN000022-1993-12-01 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1993

BREWIN TRUST FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL INTRODUCED

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*

A BILL AIMING AT REMEDYING TWO ANOMALIES IN THE BREWIN TRUST FUND ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY

(WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BREWIN TRUST FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID THE ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN 1955, PROVIDED FOR THE FUND TO BE USED TO GIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CHINESE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.

GOVERNMENT

"IN PRACTICE, FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED BY A TRUST FUND COMMITTEE ΤΟ DEPARTMENTS AND CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS TO MAKE PAYMENTS ΤΟ ELIGIBLE PERSONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED

HE QUIDELINES,

SAID.

TT

HOWEVER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ADVISED LAST YEAR THAT THIS PRACTICE DID NOT COMPLY WITH SECTION 4 OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH REQUIRES THE COMMITTEE TO SATISFY ITSELF THAT AN APPLICANT IS IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE OR BENEFIT BEFORE A GRANT IS MADE.

IT TRUST

THE BILL NOW SEEKS TO REPEAL THE OLD SECTION AND SUBSTITUTE BY A NEW ONE TO ENABLE THE COMMITTEE TO ALLOCATE MONEYS OF THE FUND TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS FOR FURTHER DISBURSEMENT TO DESERVING APPLICANTS.

THAT

THE

AND

HE

IN ADDITION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO ADVISED RESTRICTION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE TRUST FUND TO CHINESE WIDOWS

RIGHTS, ORPHANS WAS INCONSISTENT WITH ARTICLE 22 OF THE BILL OF EXPLAINED.

THE

BILL,

THEREFORE, PROPOSES TO REPEAL

OF

ORDINANCE

DEFINITION THE

THE AND INCORPORATE THE WORD "WIDOWERS" SO THAT "CHINESE" WOULD NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

0

GOVT WILL ACT UPON AIRCRAFT INCIDENT FINDINGS

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY ACT RECOMMENDATIONS

UPON ANY FINDINGS OR OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO AN INCIDENT IN WHICH AN AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE KAI TAK RUNWAY ON NOVEMBER 4 THIS YEAR.

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, GAVE HIS ASSURANCE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (

(WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG, MR SIU SAID: "THE REPORT WILL SEEK TO ESTABLISH THE CAUSE OR CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE MEASURES WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF THE INVESTIGATORS WILL ASSIST IN PREVENTING RECURRENCE OF A SIMILAR

INCIDENT.

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/THE INVESTIGATION