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Controls on possession and use of arms and ammunition for recreational and sporting purposes are to be tightened in the interest of public safety, according to the Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1999 gazetted today (Friday).

The Bill, approved by the Executive Council for introduction into the Legislative Council on January 27, was proposed after a review of the current licensing policy under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, which regulates the possession of, and dealing in, arms and ammunition.

The review was carried out by an inter-departmental working group which recommended that the regulation of shooting clubs, arms licences holders, arms dealers, air guns, deactivated firearms and the use of modified firearms for television or film production should be tightened to safeguard public safety.

A government spokesman stressed that with the proliferation of shooting clubs and the increasing popularity of shooting as a recreational or sporting activity, there was a need to strengthen the regulation of possession and use of arms and ammunition.

He noted that the number of shooting clubs had increased from 13 in 1988 to 20 in October 1998 and the number of licences and written exemptions issued for possession of arms had also increased from 898 in 1988 to 1,793 in October 1998.

Elaborating on the Bill, the spokesman said: "In particular, the Bill will tighten the control over shooting clubs. A person holding a licence for the possession of arms and ammunition on behalf of a shooting club will be required to be the one who is personally responsible for the management of the club."

At present, the licence for a shooting club is held by a responsible officer of the club, but there is no clear definition of "responsible officer" under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance.

"In addition, tighter licence conditions will be imposed to regulate the conduct of shooting clubs in their possession and use of arms and ammunition and the running of their range, armoury or other facilities to ensure adequate safety standards," the spokesman said.

The Bill makes it mandatory for a member of a shooting club to complete a course on the handling of arms before he can use the club's arms and ammunition if he does not himself hold a possession licence for that particular type of arms and ammunition.

On shooting instructors, the spokesman said: "Only a licensee or his approved agent who is so authorised by the Commissioner of Police (CP) can instruct others in the use of arms and ammunition." At present, any licensee can give such instructions.

Also, licensees will be required to seek the prior approval of the CP for appointing agents to possess or deal in arms and ammunition.

"This can preclude a person who is ineligible to obtain a possession licence or whose licence has been revoked from possessing and handling arms and ammunition in the capacity of a licensee's agent," the spokesman explained.

The Bill will also empower the CP to restrict the quantity of arms and ammunition to be covered in a licence for possession. This measure serves to reduce possible threat to public safety resulting from a large number of arms and ammunition being carried in public places or stored at the licensees' premises.

Low-powered air guns with a muzzle energy of not greater than two joules are not defined as arms at present and hence are not regulated by the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance.

"To prevent misuse of these guns that could be potentially harmful, discharging them to the danger or annoyance of any person will be made an offence under the Summary Offences Ordinance," the spokesman said.

END/Friday, January 15, 1999

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