XN000022-1995-06-28 — Page 33

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New clause 40A provides for the use of either the Chinese or the English language in keeping the books and accounts of an institution, and in furnishing forms, information and returns by the institution to the Monetary Authority. This will place both languages on an equal footing.

Mr Chairman, I beg to move.

End/Wednesday, June 28, 1995

Interpretation and General Clauses (A) Bill 1995

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in moving the second reading of the Interpretation and General Clauses (Amendment) Bill 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the second reading of the Interpretation and General Clauses (Amendment) Bill 1995.

The purpose of the Bill is to tighten existing legislative provisions which provide for powers of entry and search or seizure to more fully protect journalistic material.

We are aware of the community concerns, particularly those expressed by Members of this Council and members of the media, that the powers of search and seizure of the Police are too wide, and that such powers, if abused in relation to journalistic material, may threaten press freedom. Although we were asked only to amend the Police Force Ordinance, we discovered that similar provisions are contained in a number of other ordinances. We therefore propose to deal with them all, by amending the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance.

The amendments contained in the Bill now before this Council addresses the concerns about the search for, and seizure of, journalistic material.