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[THE ATTORNEY GENERAL] Public Order (Amendment) Bill-
second reading
clearer in its drafting and I would like to offer my thanks to those bodies whose criticisms and suggestions have greatly assisted the task of revision.
Question proposed.
Motion made (pursuant to Standing Order No 30). That the debate on the second reading of the bill be adjourned-THE Colonial SECRETARY (SIR HUGH NORMAN-WALKER).
Question put and agreed to.
Explanatory Memorandum
This Bill makes a number of amendments to the Public Order Ordinance which are designed to clarify some provisions about which doubt has been expressed and to relax others in order to give better protection to the public against any misuse of powers or against the possible conviction of persons innocently involved in circumstances which constitute offences under the Ordinance.
2. Clause 2 replaces the definition of "meeting" in the principal Ordinance so as to limit it only to those meetings where there is a degree of organization and to exclude those meetings which are held for any statutory purpose, such as creditors' meetings; the definition will cover the situation where there is no prior organization but a person assumes control or leadership of a group in a public place.
3. It is considered desirable that the power conferred on a police officer by subsection (1) of section 3 of the principal Ordinance should be exercised on the basis of reasonable belief rather than on the basis of the opinion of the police officer. Similarly, subsection (2) of section 3 is amended so as to ensure - that when a police officer enters any premises or place it should be "reasonably" necessary for him to do so. The section is also amended so as to control the flying of flags on vehicles and vessels, as well as on premises.
4. Clause 4 amends section 7 by providing that an application for the licence of the Commissioner of Police for a funeral procession at which the body is present shall be made not less than twenty-four hours before the procession is held. The clause also exempts funeral meetings and meetings held for social or business purposes in a restaurant from the need to be licensed.