TNAG-0396-FCO40-442-Problem-of-increase-in-crime-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 117

Annex E

9 months to 6 months.

6

19. The Commissioner of Prisons has proposed this

reduction in the minimum period of detention for two main

reasons

(a)

(b)

experience of the working of training centres has

shown that the necessary rehabilitation of some

offenders can be adequately achieved in a period

of six months; and

the very heavy pressure on accommodation at training

centres makes such a reduction desirable.

20. It is not, however, suggested that the period of

supervision of a person released from a training centre, which lasts for 4 years from the date of the original sentence,

should be reduced.

PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973.

21.

At Annex E is the Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 1973, the object of which is to clarify and replace the

existing section which creates the offence of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

22.

Honourable Members will recall that, by virtue of the Public Order (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance, 1972, which

came into effect on the 15th December, 1972, a person convicted

of an offence under section 33 of the Public Order Ordinance

must be sentenced to not less than 6 months' imprisonment or

to a detention order under the Detention Centres Ordinance.

23. This section has generally proved to be effective in practice and there have been approximately

under it since the 15th December last.

convictions

24. Generally speaking, though no doubt a few of them find a provision for mandatory sentences distasteful, magis-

trates have loyally applied the section. However, experience of the working of the section has shown that there are loop- holes available to a magistrate who is anxious to find one.