XN000022-1994-04-27 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1994

ON THE LOTTERIES, MR SUEN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED TO "FINE

TUNE" EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN FOREIGN LOTTERIES PROMOTED, CONDUCTED AND MANAGED OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY.

SECOND ASPECT OF THE BILL WHICH COVERED FOREIGN

AT PRESENT, HONG KONG RESIDENTS CAN ONLY PARTICIPATE IN FOREIGN LOTTERIES SPECIFIED IN THE FOURTH SCHEDULE ΤΟ THE GAMBLING REGULATIONS.

THE SCHEDULE LISTS 10 COUNTRIES AND WAS COMPILED IN 1977.

"THE INTENTION HAS BEEN THAT MORE COUNTRIES WOULD BE ADDED ONTO THE FOURTH SCHEDULE AS AND WHEN NECESSARY.

"HOWEVER, IN PRACTICE, IT HAS NOT PROVED POSSIBLE TO DEVISE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA TO DETERMINE WHICH COUNTRIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FOURTH SCHEDULE TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHERS, HE SAID.

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FOR THIS REASON, MR SUEN SAID, THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED ΤΟ REPEAL THE SCHEDULE SO THAT ALL FOREIGN LOTTERIES WOULD BE PUT ON AN EQUAL FOOTING AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL UNDER THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

AG EXPLAINS WHY SOME COMMERCIAL CRIME PROSECUTIONS ARE TERMINATED

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS WHY PROSECUTIONS IN RESPECT OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES ARE SOMETIMES TERMINATED, SUCH AS A WITNESS EITHER HIM NOT APPEARING OR NOT GIVING THE SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE EXPECTED OF

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID OR HER, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN THE

IN REPLY TO A WRITTEN QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA, MATHEWS SAID THAT OTHER REASONS WERE :

MR

AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE EVIDENCE (USUALLY A CONFESSION STATEMENT) BEING RULED INADMISSIBLE BY THE TRIAL JUDGE:

THE COURT HALTING THE PROCEEDINGS PRIOR TO TRIAL ON THE BASIS THAT TO SUBJECT THE DEFENDANT то TRIAL WOULD BE WRONG FOR MEDICAL REASONS; OR

NEW EVIDENCE OR CIRCUMSTANCES COMING TO LIGHT WHICH MAKE THE PROSECUTION UNWARRANTED.

/MR MATHEWS