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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO OFFER A 6,312 SQUARE METRE SITE NEAR THE MTR ADMIRALTY STATION IN CENTRAL FOR SALE BY AUCTION NEXT MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. THE PURCHASER WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COSTING NOT LESS THAN
HK$226 MILLION BEFORE MARCH 31, 1989. THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, MR. JOHN TODD, SAID THE CONDITIONS CONTAINED CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS IN RESPECT OF MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION
INSTALLATIONS ON THE SITE. POSSESSION OF THE SITE WOULD BE PHASED, HE SAID, BUT THE MAIN PORTION ON WHICH THE COMMERCIAL TOWERS WOULD BE ERECTED WOULD BE HANDED OVER AS SOON AS THE SITE WAS BOUGHT OR WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE DATE. MR. TODD SAID THE
DECISION TO SELL THE SITE HAD BEEN TAKEN BECAUSE INTEREST HAD BEEN SHOWN IN IT.
THE LAW GOVERNING THE IMPRISONMENT OF CIVIL DEBTORS IS TO BE REFORMED SO THAT
IN FUTURE A PERSON FROM WHOM MONEY IS CLAIMED WILL ONLY BE IMPRISONED AFTER HE HAS BEEN
BROUGHT BEFORE A COURT AND ONLY BY ORDER OF THE JUDGE. THE JUDGE WILL ONLY HAVE POWER
TO ORDER IMPRISONMENT IF THE DEBTOR IS ABLE TO PAY BUT HAS AVOIDED MEETING ANY PART OF
HIS DEBT, OR HAS OBSTRUCTED THE COURT. THESE LAW REFORM MEASURES ART PROPOSED UNDER A
DEBTORS (ARKEST AND IMPRISONMENT) BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY. A GOVERNMENT
SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN CRITICISM OF THE EXISTING IFGISLATION IN THI
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IN PARTICULAR, MR. PETER C. WONG, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS
NECESSARY TO DEVISE AN EFFECTIVE MACHINERY FOR RECOVERING MONEY FROM A DEBTOR WHO HAD
TITHER ASSETS OR A REGULAR INCOME, HAS ARGUED THAT POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME. AND THAT
IMPRISONMENT AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE IN THE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES
OF THE CIVIL LAW.
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