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Concluding, Mrs Fok said there were few greater responsibilities for a Government than to alleviate the plight of those who were the least fortunate.

In this regard, she believed that the Government and the non-governmental welfare sector were addressing their responsibilities very seriously.

End

Criminal Appeal (Amendment) Rules

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

Mr President,

I move the resolution standing in my name in the Order Paper. The resolution is to the effect that the Criminal Appeal (Amendment) Rules 1996 made by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance on 10 July 1996 be approved.

The Criminal Appeal (Amendment) Rules 1996 amend Forms VIII and XI in the Schedule to the Criminal Appeal Rules. Form VIII is the form for giving notice of appeal against conviction on a question of law. Form XI relates to applications for leave to appeal against conviction or sentence, and applications for extension of time in which to appeal. These two Forms have been amended by adding a note that the Court of Appeal has power, under section 83W of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, to direct that the time during which the appellant is in custody pending the determination of his appeal shall not be reckoned as part of the term of any sentence to which he is for the time being subject.

Section 83W of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance provides that the Court of Appeal has the power to direct that the time during which an appellant is in custody pending the determination of his appeal shall not be reckoned as part of the term of any sentence to which he is for the time being subject. However, the effect of this provision may not always be appreciated by a potential appellant, who may be ordered to serve, in effect, an additional sentence upon dismissal of his or her appeal by the Court of Appeal.