XN000022-1994-01-21 — Page 12

10

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1994

A (J)

REVIEW OF THE STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATION FOR WITNESSES IN ALL CRIMINAL COURTS;

(K)

THE CUSTODY; AND

PROVISION

OF SEPARATE ACCOMMODATION FOR

WITNESSES

IN

(L)

LAUNCHING AN EFFECTIVE

PUBLICITY STRATEGY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMME TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME AND THE ASSURANCE AND ASSISTANCE ARRANGEMENTS.

RECOMMENDATIONS (F), (G), (K) AND (L) ABOVE WILL BE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY; OTHERS HAVE RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS OR REQUIRE LEGISLATION,

WILL BE EXAMINED WITH A VIEW

AS TO IMPLEMENTATION

SOON AS

PRACTICABLE.

AND

A

UP SPOKESMAN SAID IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO SET THE CENTRALISED WITNESS PROTECTION AUTHORITY WITHIN THE SECURITY BRANCH, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

"THE SECURITY BRANCH CANNOT, AND SHOULD NOT, BE THE OPERATIONAL AUTHORITY FOR WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS AS THESE ARE AND PROPERLY THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INVESTIGATING AGENCIES THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITY.

MORE

"IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING TO ADD YET ANOTHER LAYER ON

IN THE TOP OF OPERATIONAL WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

"ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUND FOR SETTING THE AUTHORITY IN THE SECURITY BRANCH, YET THERE

BE WOULD CORRESPONDING SAVINGS FROM DEPARTMENTS."

UP NO

WITNESS PROTECTION MEASURES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA, REST WITH THE POLICE, HE EXPLAINED.

BANK NOTE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN LICENSED BANKS

SHANGHAI

THE THREE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS, THE HONG KONG AND BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK AND BANK OF CHINA, TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT:

FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY (HKMA), ALL BANK NOTE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND WITH OTHER LICENSED BANKS WOULD, WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY (JANUARY 24), BE FOR HONG KONG DOLLAR VALUE.

AS FROM THE SAME DATE, THE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS WOULD STOP CHARGING HANDLING FEES FOR THE DEPOSIT OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF BANK NOTES

BY CUSTOMERS.

THE THREE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS WILL INFORM THE COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS OF THEIR DECISION TODAY.

/THEY EXPECTED