XN000022-1994-04-07 — Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1994

SAYING ...FOR HONG

QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THAT CHINA, BY TAKING THE ACTION IN IN THE CASE OF THIS CASE AND ALSO WEI JINGSHENG, IS BASICALLY THAT IT NO LONGER CARES ABOUT THE MFN AND THAT'S RATHER KONG?

MRS

AWARE OF THE I AM SURE THAT THE CHINESE ARE WELL CHAN: IMPORTANCE OF MFN NOT ONLY TO CHINA BUT ALSO TO HONG KONG. THEY ARE IN I SHALL SHORTLY THE DIALOGUE WITH THE AMERICANS AND AS YOU KNOW,

OF HONG MYSELF BE GOING TO AMERICA TO LOBBY FOR MEN BOTH ON BEHALF KONG AND ON BEHALF OF CHINA.

LAW TO TACKLE ELECTION OFFENCES TO BE AMENDED

LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO

THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING MODERNISE AND FURTHER IMPROVE LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR TACKLING CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) SAID THAT PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE

MADE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE (CIPO) WERE FOLLOWING A REVIEW CARRIED OUT BY THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

CONSTITUTIONAL

DEVELOPMENT PANEL.

COUNCIL

THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 TO BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IS AIMED AT BRINGING ABOUT OPEN AND FAIR ELECTIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE AMENDMENT BILL ALSO SEEKS TO MAKE THE ORDINANCE EASIER ENFORCE AND TO COMPREHEND.

TO

"IT ALSO REMOVES FROM THE ORDINANCE CERTAIN ANOMALIES AND INCONSISTENCIES AND ACHIEVE GREATER DETERRENCE THROUGH HEAVIER PENALTIES, HE SAID.

"I

OUTLINING THE MAJOR AMENDMENTS UNDER THE BILL AND THE REASONS FOR THE PROPOSALS, THE SPOKESMAN GAVE THE FOLLOWING DETAILS:

PENALTY

то INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

HAVE

AND

THE

WITH

THE

IN PROPOSING THE NEW PENALTY LEVELS, THE ADMINISTRATION TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE SERIOUS NATURE OF ELECTORAL OFFENCES NERD TO BRING INTO PARITY THE PENALTIES FOR ELECTORAL OFFENCES THOSE HEAVIER PENALTIES IN FORCE FOR OTHER CORRUPT OFFENCES UNDER PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE (POBO).

/ELECTORAL BRIBERY