Officials to table 71 new bills

Officials planned to introduce 71 bills, including one covering election of the chief executive, to the legislature in the current session, members were told yesterday.

Director of Administration Andrew Wong Ho-yuen said draft legislation would provide the legislative framework for election of the chief executive in 2002. The Government would seek to move amendments to the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance to create a new provision applicable to the chief executive.

Members were told the Department of Justice would introduce a bill aimed at creating the new offence of persistent sexual abuse of a child. This would cover a situation where a child had been abused several times but was unable to recall each incident.

The Security Bureau would table a bill to criminalise possession, production, advertising and distribution of child pornography, and employment of children for child pornography.

The Financial Services Bureau would bring in a bill to improve the operation of the banking ordinance in relation to advertisements posted on the Internet soliciting deposits, while the Home Affairs Bureau would introduce a bill to combat unauthorised gambling on the Internet.