XN000022-1996-07-15 — Page 4

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Question: You said the meeting with Prince Charles was useful, in what way useful Governor?

Governor: It's always been useful for me to be able to brief senior members of the Royal Family on Hong Kong in whose fortunes they've taken active interest. On previous visits, I've met other members of the Royal Family. On one previous visit I had a long audience with Her Majesty the Queen. The Prince of Wales has visited Hong Kong on two occasions while I've been Governor. He is interested in what is happening in Hong Kong and I am sure that its important to meet that interest by briefing him on the position.

Question: will you empower Legco to hold the special meeting to investigate Laurence Leung's early retirement?

Governor: I think it would be slightly surprising to recall Legco. Legco wasn't after all recalled when there was a huge public controversy in Daya Bay. I think when we are talking about the personal reasons for individual civil servant's retirement from the civil service, it would be slightly surprising to take an even more substantial view of the situation then was taken in that situation. I don't think one should get these things out of proportion and I'd be surprised if Legislative Councillors really thought we were going to do so. Thank you very much indeed.

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Law Reform Commission publishes Report on Fraud

The Law Reform Commission today (Monday) published a report on the "Creation of a Substantive Offence of Fraud". The report follows the issue of a consultation paper in June last year on the Commission's preliminary proposal that a new offence of fraud should be enacted in Hong Kong.

In announcing the release of the report, the Secretary to the Commission, Mr Stuart Stoker, explained that at present Hong Kong did not possess a general offence of fraud. He said that instead there are a number of specific offences (such as obtaining property by deception) provided in the Theft Ordinance. Where two or more persons are involved in fraudulent conduct, it is possible to charge them with conspiracy to defraud. In the absence of a specific offence of fraud, however, similar conduct committed by one person acting alone does not amount to an offence unless it falls within the confines of one of the Theft Ordinance offences, he said,