RESTRICTED
THE LAW HAS NOT BEEN APPLIED IN A REPRESSIVE WAY. IT HAS
BEEN APPLIED IN A WAY WHICH IS AIMED AT AVOIDING INCONVENIENCE
1 THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ENSURING THAT THE POLICE FORCE IS AT
ALL TIMES ABLE TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER. LICENCES FOR MEETINGS
AND PROCESSIONS ARE RARELY REFUSED, AND THE GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL
SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE ARE THEMSELVES LIMITED. IN PARTICULAR,
PROVIDED THAT THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL WILL NOT BE INCONVENIENCED,
THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS RESPECTED.
NEVERTHELESS, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR A REVIEW OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS IN THE LIGHT OF TODAY'S
CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS IN HAND. I THINK THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES
FOR CHANGE WHICH WILL REMOVE MUCH OF THE CONCERN NOW BEING VOICED.
WE SHALL PRESS ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BUT WE DO NOT INTEND TO
DE RUSHED BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH A PART OF THE LAW AND ORDER
FIELD WHICH NEEDS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, ፡፡
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HROGD (6) MRMURRAY
COPIES
ΤΟ
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
;
3 RESTRICTED