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At the Finance Committee meeting on 15 October 1993, Members agreed to delegate authority to the Secretary for the Treasury to approve future changes in the rates of the allowances for ordinary witnesses and jurors, in accordance with movements in the median monthly earnings of employees in Hong Kong, and for professional and expert witnesses, in accordance with changes in the mid-point salary of a Medical and Health Officer. In order to maintain the value of the rates of the allowances, it was also agreed that the rates should be reviewed biennially.
Accordingly, the Judiciary conducted a review of the allowances in November last year. It was recommended that the maximum allowance payable to an ordinary witness be increased to $280 for each day, or $140 for part of a day, and that the maximum allowance payable to a professional or an expert witness be increased to $1,690 for each day, or $845 for part of a day. The increase in the allowances was approved by the Secretary for the Treasury under the authority delegated to him by Finance Committee to take effect from 26 January 1996.
The Criminal Procedure (Witnesses Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 1996 will, upon their commencement, bring into effect the new rates. In accordance with Section 9B of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, they require the approval of this Council by resolution.
At the same Finance Committee meeting, Members also approved the proposal that the allowances payable to ordinary, professional and expert witnesses attending a coroner's inquiry be increased to similar levels. These allowances are set out in the Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) Rules, made under the Coroners Ordinance. The new rates are reflected in the Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 1996 which will be the subject of a separate resolution.
Mr President, I beg to move.
End
Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) (A) Rules
Following is the speech by the Attorney General, the Hon Jeremy Mathews, in moving the resolution on the Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move the second resolution standing in my name on the Order paper.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.