XN000022-1996-01-24 — Page 43

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Criminal Procedure (Questions of Law)(Amendment) Rules

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in moving the resolution on the Criminal Procedure (Reference of Questions of Law)(Amendment) Rules 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the fourth resolution standing in my name on the Order paper.

The Criminal Procedure (Reference of Questions of Law) (Amendment) Rules 1995 made by the Chief Justice will, upon commencement, provide for the use of both of the official languages with reference to a question of law taken under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, they require the approval of this Council by resolution.

Mr President, I beg to move.

End

Criminal Procedure (Witnesses' Allowances) (A) Rules

Following is the speech by the Attorney General, the Hon Jeremy Mathews, in moving the resolution on the Criminal Procedure (Witnesses' Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President.

I move the first resolution standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The rates of allowances payable to witnesses in criminal proceedings are prescribed in the Criminal Procedure (Witnesses' Allowances) Rules, made by the Chief Justice under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance. The Rules provide that the maximum allowance payable to an ordinary witness is $240 for each day, or $120 for part of a day. A higher rate, namely a maximum of $1,400 for each day, or $700 for part of a day, is prescribed for a professional or an expert witness. The existing rates were last revised in 1993 and should now be updated.