1964_COMMISSIONS_OF_INQUIRY_ORDINANCE — Page 7

6

CAP. 86]

Use of evidence in civil and criminal proceedings. (Cap. 200.)

Production of documents, and evidence, to Commission's inspectors.

Contempts to be offences.

Commissions of Inquiry

[1976 Ed.

(b) produce evidence in such form as the Commission may

permit on any matter.

(4) The Commission may appoint a legal officer nominated by the Attorney General, a barrister or a solicitor to act as counsel for the Commission.

7. Evidence given by any person before the Commission shall not be admissible against him in any civil or criminal proceed- ings by or against him, except where he is charged with any offence under Part V (Perjury) of the Crimes Ordinance or is proceeded against under section 8 or 9.

7A. (1) It shall be the duty of all officers and agents of a public body or other body of persons to produce to an inspector appointed under section 4(1)(ma) to inspect its books and docu- ments, all books and documents in their custody or power of or relating to such body's affairs or the affairs of any other body of persons the books and documents of which the inspector is appointed under section 4(1)(ma) to inspect, and otherwise to give to the inspector all assistance that they are reasonably able to give.

(2) In this section, any reference to officers or to agents of a public body or other body of persons shall include past, as well as present, officers or agents, as the case may be, and for the purposes of this section "agents" shall include the bankers and solicitors of such body and any person employed by such body as auditor, whether such person is or is not an officer of such body.

8. (1) Any person who-

(Added, 49 of 1976, s. 5)

(a) fails without reasonable excuse to attend at the time and

place specified in a summons issued under section 4;

(b) refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation on being

required to do so under section 4;

(c) refuses to answer any question put by or with the consent of the Commission or to produce any article or document in his possession or under his control on being required to do so under section 4;

(ca) being an officer or agent of a public body or other body

of persons within the meaning of section 7A-

(i) after the appointment of a Commission and with intent to avoid or prevent production, destroys, suppresses, defaces or makes away with any book or document that it would be his duty to produce to an inspector in the event of an inspector being appointed under section 4(1)(ma), or

(ii) refuses, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to produce any such book or document to an inspector so appointed, or