XN000022-1993-12-08 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993

THE BILL PROVIDES EXEMPTION FOR GOODS UNDER TRANSHIPMENT OR TRANSIT THROUGH HONG KONG AND GOODS MANUFACTURED FOR EXPORT.

IN

THOSE GOODS APPEARING IN THE SCHEDULE WILL ALSO BE EXEMPTED EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE GOVERNED BY SPECIFIC STATUTORY CONTROL SCHEMES OR BECAUSE SPECIFIC LEGISLATION GOVERNING THEIR SAFETY IS BEING

PREPARED.

UPON ENACTMENT OF THE BILL, A GRACE PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WILL BE ALLOWED FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE THE LEGISLATION COMES INTO OPERATION.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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EARLY RETURN OF RECOVERED BOATS BEING ARRANGED

THE POLICE ARE SEEKING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE EARLY RETURN TO HONG KONG OF FIVE STOLEN PLEASURE BOATS WHICH HAVE BBRN RECOVERED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

A

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SIMON IP SIK-ON, MR ASPREY SAID THE POLICE HAD RECEIVED NINE REPORTS OF PLEASURE BOATS, WITH TOTAL ESTIMATED VALUE OF $24.7 MILLION, BEING STOLEN IN HONG KONG 80 FAR THIS YEAR.

SIX BOATS, RESEMBLING THE STOLEN BOATS, WERE REPORTEDLY SKEN IN CHINESE WATERS.

MR ASPREY SAID THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE THEFT AND THE REPORTED SIGHTINGS. THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THE SIGHTINGS AND TO HELP LOCATE THE STOLEN BOATS,

THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAD RECOVERED FIVE BOATS.

TO

HE SAID THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU HAD GIVEN ADVICE BOAT OWNERS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY OF LUXURY BOATS, SUCH AS THE USE OF IMMOBILISATION DEVICES AND LOCKS AND ALARMS WHEN THE BOATS WERE NOT IN USE.

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