ت
(b)
Justice had criticised the inclusion of the words
"or suitable" on the grounds that under the defini-
tion as it stands, even a pencil might be regarded
as an offensive weapon. The Commissioner of Police,
Hong Kong, has pointed out that in Hong Kong the
commonest offensive weapons used are the cargo hook
and the mineral water bottle, neither of which is
"made" or "adapted" but both of which are eminently
suitable for causing injury. It is considered in
the Department that this argument is sound and that
the definition should stand unamended.
Section 7 of the Ordinance concerns the licensing
Justice had
of public meetings and processions.
commented that the licensing system under this
Section was inappropriate for funeral gatherings;
and that the period of seven days which was
required under this Section to elapse between
an application for a licence and the holding of
the meeting was much too long in the case of
funerals. Clause 4 of the Bill accordingly
amends the Section by reducing the period of
notice required from seven to two days in the
case of a funeral procession; the Clause also
exempts funeral meetings and meetings held for
social purposes in a restaurant, from the need
to be licensed at all. These amendments repre-
sent a definite amelioration of the provisions
of the existing Section; but there remains some
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CONFIDENTIAL