XN000022-1994-05-19 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1994

QUESTION: MRS CHAN, CAN YOU REPEAT THE ANSWER (ABOUT THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS) IN ENGLISH?

-ON THE PACKAGE.

MRS CHAN: I WAS SAYING THAT THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS WHOLE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL INDEED, THE

VERY CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM HAS RECEIVED CONSISTENTLY

SUPPORT. STRONG CROSS-PARTY

THE AT THE MOMENT,

FINAL PACKAGE OF

LEGISLATIVE

WILL AMENDMENTS ARE BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THEY

COUNCIL BE DEBATED AND THEY WILL BE ULTIMATELY UP TO THE LEGISLATIVE

WE HAVE ΤΟ DECIDE WHAT FORM THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE SHOULD TAKE.

ON MANY OCCASIONS STRESSED

THAT WE

THAT HOPE

THERE WILL BE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS THAT WILL BE FAIR, OPEN AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,

ACCEPTABLE

QUESTION: WILL IT (REVOKED APPOINTMENT OF A HONG KONG ADVISER) AFFECT CONFIDENCE AND WHAT SIGNAL IS PEKING SENDING TO HONG KONG ?

YOU

AS CONSUMER MAKING

MRS CHAN: I DO NOT THINK IT WILL AFFECT CONFIDENCE. I THINK KNOW OUR ECONOMY IS DOING EXTREMELY WELL. BUSINESS AND

ARE EXTREMELY STRONG. WE HOPE THAT THE CHINESE, IN CONFIDENCE APPOINTMENTS FOR HONG KONG ADVISERS, WILL HAVE REGARD TO THE WISHES OF THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE OPINION AND TAKE THE COMMUNITY BROAD SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY VIEWS. THANK YOU.

VIEWS FROM

A

AMENDMENT BILL REQUIRES MARKING OF PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES

THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED TOUGH NEW MEASURES ΤΟ ENSURE THAT ANY PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES ENTERING HONG KONG ARE MARKED WITH A CHEMICAL ADDITIVE, WHICH WILL MAKE THEM EASY то DETECT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY),

THE MEASURES ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MONTREAL CONVENTION ADOPTED IN 1991 BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AIR LAW TO DETER ACTS OF TERRORISM SUCH AS THE LOCKERBIE BOMBING, WHICH INVOLVED

'SEMTEX', A PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE WHICH WAS THEN UNDETECTABLE.

MEASURES,

THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, INCORPORATING THE WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO MAKE, POSSESS, TRANSFER, IMPORT OR EXPORT UNMARKED PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES IN, INTO OR OUT OF HONG KONG.

HOWEVER, THE POLICE, THE MILITARY AND THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO FOR TRAINING AND FORENSIC PURPOSES.

"THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR WHICH MUST BE ABLE TO DETECT DIFFERENT KINDS MARKED OR NOT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

UNDER THE BILL, PEOPLE COMMITTING AN SENTENCE OF UP TO 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

TRAINING SNIFFER DOGS OF EXPLOSIVES WHETHER

OFFENCE WOULD FACE

A

PENALTIES OF

A PRISON

EXPLOSIVES

"THE PENALTY COMPLEMENTS THE EXISTING TERM OF UP TO 20 YEARS FOR CAUSING EXPLOSIONS WITH INTENT ΤΟ HARM LIFE OR PROPERTY AND UP TO 14 YEARS FOR MAKING OR KEEPING WITH THAT INTENT," HE SAID.

/THE SPOKESMAN