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Following is the speech (translated from Chinese) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, in moving proposed resolution under Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504) for the Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 2015 in the Legislative Council today (March 18):
Mr President,
I move that the Resolution standing in my name on the Agenda be passed. This motion aims to seek the approval of the Legislative Council for the Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 2015 made by the Chief Justice under section 54 of the Coroners Ordinance.
At present, the maximum rates of allowances payable to witnesses in coroners' inquests are the same as those for witnesses in criminal proceedings. The adjustment mechanism approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council is also the same as that for the allowances for witnesses under the Criminal Procedure (Witnesses' Allowances) Rules. Following a review conducted in 2014, the Judiciary Administration proposed, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury approved, to increase the maximum rate of allowance for ordinary witnesses from $410 to $445 for each day of attendance and from $205 to $220 for not exceeding four hours of attendance. For professional or expert witnesses, the maximum rate of allowance would be increased from $2,355 to $2,415 for each day of attendance and from $1,175 to $1,205 for not exceeding four hours of attendance.
The Coroners (Witnesses' Allowances) (Amendment) Rules 2015 seeks to implement the new rates of allowances. I invite Members to approve the Resolution. Thank you.
Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:25
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