XN000022-1994-10-12 — Page 47

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1994

MINIMUM PERIODS OF WHERE YEAR,

WHERE ONE

7 PROVIDES FOR REDUCTIONS IN THE CLAUSE SEPARATION IN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS FROM TWO YEARS TO ONE BOTH PARTIES

YEARS, CONSENT, AND FROM FIVE YEARS TO TWO PARTY DOES NOT CONSENT, WITH THE LATTER REDUCTION, THE CURRENT FACT OF DESERTION FOR

REDUNDANT. TWO YEARS WILL BECOME

ACCORDINGLY, CLAUSE PROVIDES FOR ITS REPEAL. THE CLAUSE ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE PROCEDURE OF JOINT APPLICATION FOR DIVORCE BY MUTUAL CONSENT.

THIS NEW

IN

WITH RESPECT TO THE CURRENT THREE-YEAR PROHIBITION, EXCEPT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, ON DIVORCE EARLY IN MARRIAGE, CLAUSE 8 PROVIDES FOR A REDUCTION TO ONE YEAR.

CLAUSE 9 PROVIDES FOR PROCEEDINGS FOR DIVORCE IN CASES OF PRIOR OF JOINT JUDICIAL SEPARATION TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE NEW PROCEDURE

TO APPLICATIONS FOR DIVORCE. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR HUSBANDS AND WIVES BE TREATED EQUALLY IN DIVORCE PETITIONS CITING ADULTERY.

CLAUSE 16 PROVIDES FOR THE ABOLITION OF ACTIONS FOR DAMAGES FOR

ADULTERY.

0

LEGCO PASSES MOTION ON BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR HK

*

A MOTION URGING THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS POLICY AND ΤΟ HONOUR ITS OBLIGATION TO ALL BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AND BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS) IN HONG KONG BY EXTENDING TO THEM FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE MOTION, TO WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, REPLIED, WAS MOVED BY THE HON EMILY LAU.

MEANWHILE, ANOTHER MOTION MOVED BY HON ALBERT CHAN WHICH CALLED FOR A SELECT COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO THE KWUN LUNG LAU LANDSLIP AND RELATED ISSUES WAS ALSO PASSED. THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, REPLIED FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

MEMBERS ALSO ASKED A TOTAL OF 19 QUESTIONS AND PASSED 10 BILLS WITH AMENDMENTS. THESE BILLS WERE THE ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIMES BILL, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992; CONSUMER GOODS BILL: SALE OF GOODS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994; SUPPLY OF SERVICES (IMPLIED TERMS) BILL; UNCONSCIONABLE CONTRACTS BILL; HONG KONG AIRPORT (CONTROL OF OBSTRUCTIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993; ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT} BILL 1994; RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES (ELDELY PERSONS) BILL; AND THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994.

INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS AT TODAY'S SITTING WERE THREE BILLS - THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE TIMBER STORES BILL AND THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1994.