XN000022-1994-01-19 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1994

"IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, IF THE DEFENDANT IS OF GOOD CHARACTER A FAIRLY LIGHT SENTENCE IS APPROPRIATE.

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IN ADDITION, IN CASES WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS A HOSPITAL ORDER, NOT A PRISON SENTENCE, IS APPROPRIATE.

"OTHER CASES MAY BE VERY SERIOUS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE FACTS AND ONE SHOULD NOT FETTER THE DISCRETION OF THE SENTENCING JUDGE," MR MATHEWS ADDED.

NO PLAN TO EXPAND LABOUR IMPORT SCHEME

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLAN AT PRESENT TO FURTHER EXPAND THE GENERAL LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR W K LAM, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TIEN, MR LAM SAID IN CONSIDERING WHETHER THE SCHEME SHOULD BE EXPANDED, THE GOVERNMENT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

"UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS JUST ONE OF THEM, HE SAID.

"THE PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME IS TO HELP RELIEVE BOTTLENECKS IN THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET DUE TO LABOUR SHORTAGE AT THE TECHNICIAN, CRAFTSMAN, SUPERVISOR AND EXPERIENCED OPERATIVE LEVELS SO THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH IS NOT IMPEDED, MR LAM ADDED.

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DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

NORMALLY FOLLOW DISTRICT BOARDS' ADVICE

AS DISTRICT BOARDS (DBS) ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO ADVISE ON THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THEIR ADVICE IS NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

(DMCS) PROVIDED IT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH ESTABLISHED POLICIES OR PRACTICES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, SUEN, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN QUESTION BY THE HON MRS SELINA CHOW ON THE RELATIONSHIP AND DMCS.

GOVERNMENT

MR MICHAEL REPLY TO A BETWEEN DBS

/MR SUEN