RESTRICTED
HKK 3602
RECOIVAT
GR 800
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 210640Z MAY 79
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TOP COPY
Mo
222.21
77
TELNO.607 OF 21
MAY.
76
YOUR TELNO.296.
1. THE PROPOSED REPLY AS SET OUT IN PARA.2
IS AGREED.
OF YOUR TELEGRAM
2. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPLY IN LEGCO ON 9 MAY 1979, THE QUESTION PUT, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPLY, IS AS FOLLOWS
"'QUESTION: HAVING REGARD TO THE DECISION OF THE HIGH COURT
IN THE YAUMATEI BOAT DWELLERS CASE AND VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS OF PUBLIC CONCERN, HAS THE GOVERNMENT ANY PLANS TO AMEND THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE WITH RESPECT TO CONTROL OF MEETINGS AND PUBLIC GATHERINGS ?
SIR,
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MINDFUL OF THE CONSIDERABLE
IT CAME AUTHORITY VESTED IN IT BY THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE. INTO BEING IN RATHER DIFFERENT TIMES, THOUGH CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF IT WAS NOT CONCEIVED IN THE CONTEXT OF ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION OF DISORDER. OURS IS A COMMUNITY WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTOLERANT OF DISORDER. IT HAS THEREFORE BEEN A COMMUNITY
WHICH HAS BEEN PREPARED TO TOLERATE SOME CONSTRAINTS ON FREEDOM
OF ASSOCIATION.
I HOPE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN
CONSTRAINTS <
HERE FREEDOM C
EXERCISED. Tum
KEEP A PROPER B/
TOGETHER IN PUBLIC ANL
ENOUGH, BUT IT IS PERHAPS WORTH SAYING
OBJECT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY TO IMPOSE
PROCIATION AS SUCH, NOR IS THE ISSUE
ICE WAY IN WHICH THAT FREEDOM IS WS IM WAS TO ENSURE THAT IT COULD VEEN THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO MEET
INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,
RESTRICTED
THUS