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It is not unreasonable that a person who fails to fulfil his duties and thereby puts other people's lives at risk should bear criminal liability. Criminal offences are already provided under the existing Buildings Ordinance against certain misconduct committed by APs and RSES, such as deviation from approved building plans and failure to notify the Building Authority of contraventions to the Buildings Ordinance. Penalties vary with different offences, and range from a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment for 6 months to a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for 3 years. They were put into the law to ensure adequate protection of public safety.

End/Wednesday, July 19, 1995

Hong Kong's trade deficits up

Following is a question by the Hon Martin Barrow and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services, Mr Michael Cartland, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Hong Kong's trade deficits (in HK$ Billion) have increased as follows:

1993 1994 % change

1994 1995 % change

(Jan-Apr)

Deficit

26.3 80.7 +206%

24.4 56.9 +133%

With the deficit in 1994 having more than trebled than that in 1993 and again more than doubled during the first four months in 1995 as compared with that in the corresponding period in 1994, will the Government inform this Council of the reasons for this trend and the implications for the territory's economy?