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The opportunity is also taken to increase the penalty for offences relating to the marking and the detreatment of marking of diesel oil under the Dutiable Commodities (Marking and Colouring of Hydrocarbon Oil) Regulations so as to enhance the deterrent effect against illegal activities on diesel oil. We propose to raise the maximum penalty from the current level of a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for two years the same as that for offences relating to the illegal use of marked oil under the Regulations. We have also taken the opportunity to clarify the interpretation of a minor provision in the legislation.

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Mr President, with these remarks, I commend the Bill to Members.

End

Second reading of Bill to enforce maintenance orders

Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Stella Hung, in moving the second reading of the Marriage and Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 1997 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move that the Marriage and Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 1997 be read a second time.

The Bill seeks to amend four ordinances which deal with maintenance orders and also custody, supervision and care orders for children. The four ordinances are:- Guardianship of Minors Ordinance, Separation and Maintenance Orders Ordinance, Matrimonial Causes Ordinance and Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance.

The Bill has four objectives.

The first is to facilitate the collection and enforcement of maintenance payments. We are aware that at present, where a maintenance payer defaults in payments, the maintenance payee has to go through time-consuming and complicated court proceedings in order to enforce the maintenance orders. Enforcement is extremely difficult where the maintenance payer has changed address without notifying the maintenance payees.