XN000022-1994-04-21 — Page 21

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1994

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"LEGAL ADVICE INDICATES THAT SECTION 29 IN ITS PRESENT FORM COULD BE HELD TO CONTRAVENE THE RIGHT TO LEAVE HONG KONG AND THE RIGHT TO A FAIR HEARING LAID DOWN RESPECTIVELY IN ARTICLES 8(2) AND 10 OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE.

OF

"THE TRAVEL AGENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL SEEKS TO MAKE THE ISSUE A PROHIBITION ORDER A JUDICIAL FUNCTION. THE DISCRETION TO ISSUE SUCH AN ORDER WILL BE EXERCISED BY A MAGISTRATE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HIGH

THE AMENDED SECTION 29 ALSO PROVIDES FOR AN APPEAL TO THE COURT AGAINST THE DECISION OF A MAGISTRATE TO MAKE A PROHIBITION ORDER.

OF

"THE BILL SEEKS TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE PROTECTION THE INTEREST OF OUTBOUND TRAVELLERS AND THE NEED FOR SECTION 29 OF THE ORDINANCE TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

"I

"THE AMENDMENTS FOLLOW CLOSELY A SIMILAR PRECEDENT IN THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE WHICH WAS ENACTED IN JULY 1993," HE ADDED.

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HK MOVING FAST ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

*

FIRST

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN 1989, HAS BEEN MOVING AT A FAST PACE AND INVESTING VERY LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO CORRECT PAST ENVIRONMENTAL MISTAKES; FEW GOVERNMENTS ANYWHERE HAVE DONE SO MUCH, SO QUICKLY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY COOPER, TODAY (THURSDAY) IN A KEY-NOTE SPEECH TO AN ENVIRONMENT AUDITING WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MR. COOPER SAID HONG KONG HAD SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, THE RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THEM AND THE ABILITY TO MOVE AT A SPEED WHICH MADE MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES APPEAR TO BE STANDING STILL.

"WE NOW HAVE COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLANS FOR DEALING WITH WASTE CHEMICAL WASTE, SOLID WASTE, CONSTRUCTION WASTE, DOMESTIC WASTE AND SEWAGE.

"WE HAVE PLANS FOR TACKLING AIR POLLUTION, NOISE POLLUTION AND FOR STRENGTHENING LEGISLATION.

"WE HAVE PLANS ΤΟ MAKE POLLUTERS PAY. AND FOR ENHANCING

COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT MR COOPER SAID THAT MORE REMAINED TO BE DONE IN CARRYING OUT THESE PLANS TO FRUITION AND THEN BUILDING ON THEM TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE HONG KONG.

/MR COOPER