XN000022-1997-03-19 — Page 11

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Apart from the key proposals which I have referred to in my Second Reading Debate Speech, most of the amendments are drafting and technical in nature. They serve to remove ambiguities, and introduce minor procedural changes to better reflect current practices. All the proposed amendments have been agreed by the Bills Committee.

Mr Chairman, I beg to move.

End

Long-term Prison Sentences Review Bill

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in moving the second reading of the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move that the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Bill be read a second time.

This Bill seeks to establish a statutory board to review long-term prison sentences, including detentions at Her Majesty's pleasure, and to make recommendations to the Governor where appropriate to change the sentences. This bill forms part of a package of measures to further enhance the transparency, effectiveness and fairness of our prison sentence review system, and to provide better rehabilitative services for released prisoners. Other measures in this package include a Post-Release Supervision Scheme which was launched in December last year, and proposals to amend the Prison Rules which will shortly be finalized.

Under existing arrangements, long-term prison sentences are reviewed on a regular basis by an advisory board called the Board of Review, Long-term Prison Sentences, which currently consists of seven non-official members from different background and four ex-officio members. The Board's main function is to examine the circumstances pertaining to the case under review, and to determine whether any change to the prisoner's sentence is justified. In this review process, the Board considers a number of factors, including the nature of the offence, the prisoner's criminal history, his age at the time of the offence, his response to counselling or psychological treatment, his progress and his future prospects in terms of rehabilitation, any compassionate considerations, and public safety.