XN000022-1996-03-13 — Page 17

The resolution also enables the Financial Secretary to vary the funds on account in respect of any subhead, provided that these variations do not cause an excess over the amount of provision entered for that subhead in the draft Estimates or an excess over the amount of funds on account for the head.

The Financial Secretary will issue a vote on account warrant to the Director of Accounting Services authorising him to make payments up to the amount specified in this motion and in accordance with its conditions. The vote on account will be subsumed upon the enactment of the Appropriation Bill, and the general warrant issued after the enactment of the Appropriation Bill will replace the vote on account

warrant.

Mr President, I beg to move.

End

Evidence Bill

Following is a speech by the Attorney General, the Hon Jeremy Mathews, in moving the second reading of the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move that the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 1996 be read a second time.

The purpose of the Bill is twofold. First, it proposes to enhance the powers of the High Court to obtain evidence for the purpose of criminal proceedings in other jurisdictions. Secondly, it proposes to abolish the corroboration rules in respect of

sexual offences.

Obtaining of evidence for overseas jurisdictions

I will first deal with the provisions relating to obtaining of evidence for overseas jurisdictions. Under the existing law, the courts in Hong Kong may, on the request of another jurisdiction, take evidence here for use in criminal proceedings in that jurisdiction. However, before the court can assist in obtaining evidence for proceedings in another jurisdiction, it must be satisfied, firstly, that the request was made by or on behalf of a "court or tribunal" and, secondly, that the evidence in question is to be obtained for proceedings which have been instituted or which are likely to be instituted if the evidence is obtained.