JUSTICE
Kemorandum on the Public Order Ordinance 1967 of Hong Kong
Tho Public Order Ordinanco 1967 is an ordinance to
"Consolidato and amend the law relating to the maintenance of
public order, the control of organisations, meetings, placos
vossola and Aircraft, unlawful assemblies and riots and matters
incidontal thereto or connected therewith"
元
2.3
The bill was first publishod in the Government Gazette on 6th October
1967 and became law upon November 15 having apparently boon put through all its
stages in the Legislative Council in the twelve days immediately precoding
that date.
The Hong Kong Branch of Justice are now seeking the help of Justice in
London to secure the disallowance of the Ordinanco in order that it can be
referred back to liong Kong for detailed discussion.
Tho major contention appears to be that the bill was so rushed through
the Lobislative Council that interested parties lackod adequate time for its
consideration. But other assertions have been made which should be examined
is that the Ordinance is contrary to the fundamental principles of Eritish
justice, particularly in that innocent parties may be adversely affected by
reason of unnecessarily wide police powers.
1.
Spood of logislation
There were some five and half weeks between the initial publication of
the bill and the completion of the third roading. The first public reactions
appear to have occurred in early November, 1.0. almost a month aftor its
publication: the controversy and press comment omorgod at the time the bill
was passing through the Legislative Council. It is not clear at what stage
Justico (II.K.) became interested but it sooms that the decision to review
the terms of the Bill was taken only when the Bill was already on its way
through Legislative Council.
The debate in the Legislative Counoil seems from second hand sources
to have been in general terms without section by sootion discussion. No amond-
monts appear to have been proposed or at least made. There is sono suggestion
that the bill was thought by at least one Councillor to be non-controversial.