TNAG-1611-FCO40-2214-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 62

1

section 17(2) are

variations

on the same theme

and are compatible with this existing offences.

Therefore, the penalty should remain at the same

level. In fact, the amendment proposed under

clause 2 of the Bill has removed the sentence of

three months and six months imprisonment from all

these offences. It must be pointed out that the

Bill before this Council is in fact proposing to

reduce the sentences for such type of offences.

Mr. Desmond LEE and Mr. Martin LEE had, after

their speeches in the Second Reading, circulated

the speeches to all the district board members

and solicited their views on the Bill. So far,

no one has responded or written to OMELCO.

4.

Finally, we consider on the deferment of the Bill

The ad hoc group also considered

the

possibility of deferring the Bill to 6 January

1988 as requested by Mr. Desmond LEE. We were

assured by the Administration that there has been

ample

consultation

since May 1986. Also, the

official date of

public campaign for the 1988

launched by the Government on

election will be

5 January

three days before nomination of

candidates. If we defer the Third Reading of

this Bill to 6 January,

to 6 January, the final gazetting date

will actually also be on 8 January.