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Two bills on adaptation of laws, one relating to ordinances on treatment of offenders and ancillary matters while the other concerning crime-related ordinances, are gazetted today (Wednesday).

"The Adaptation of Laws Bill 1998 and the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Bill 1998 are needed to effect necessary textual amendments to those ordinances so that terminologies that are inconsistent with the Basic Law or with the status of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China can be changed accordingly," a Government spokesman said.

"Most of the proposed amendments are merely terminological changes. References, such as 'the Governor', 'the colony', 'the Crown', 'the Colonial Regulations', 'London' and 'Secretary of State', will be suitably amended. References to United Kingdom Acts are proposed to be either deleted or replaced by references to local legislation," he said.

"Although the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance has laid down how these terminologies are to be construed, it is considered unacceptable to retain such terminologies in our laws. Hence we need to introduce further legislation to effect the necessary textual amendments," the spokesman added.

The Adaptation of Laws Bill 1998 covers 15 ordinances. They are the Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Chapter 145), the Juvenile Offenders Ordinance (Chapter 226), the Prisons Ordinance (Chapter 234), the Detention Centres Ordinance (Chapter 239), the Drug Addiction Treatment Centres Ordinance (Chapter 244), the Training Centres Ordinance (Chapter 280), the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance (Chapter 297), the Prisoners (Release under Supervision) Ordinance (Chapter 325), the Drug Addicts Treatment and Rehabilitation Ordinance (Chapter 326), the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance (Chapter 405), the Prisoners' Education Trust Fund Ordinance (Chapter 467), the Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Ordinance (Chapter 475), the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Ordinance (Chapter 513), the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Ordinance (Chapter 524) and the Correctional Services Children's Education Trust Ordinance (Chapter 1131).

Twelve ordinances are covered by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Bill 1998. They are the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Chapter 134), the Societies Ordinance (Chapter 151), the Crimes Ordinance (Chapter 200)(Parts III to XIII), the Offences Against the Person Ordinance (Chapter 212), the Weapons Ordinance (Chapter 217), the Summary Offences Ordinance (Chapter 228), the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Chapter 238), the Public Order Ordinance (Chapter 245), the Administration of Justice (Felonies and Misdemeanours) Ordinance (Chapter 328), the Complex Commercial Crimes Ordinance (Chapter 394), the Crimes (Torture) Ordinance (Chapter 427) and the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Chapter 455).

Both Bills will be introduced into the Legislative Council on October 14.

End/Wednesday, September 30, 1998

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