MR RICHARD LAI.
BEGINS
ANOTHER ISSUE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE SPIRIT OF LIBERALIZING
GOVERNMENT IS THE FREEDOM OF PRESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS
(CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE. WHEN I FIRST SAW IT, I WAS SHOCKED
BY THE THREATS TO THE FREEDOM OF PRESS EMBEDDED IN THE ORDINANCE.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR PRESS TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE
POLITICAL PROCESS HINGES ON THE FREEDOM ENJOYED BY IT. IF WE
PRESERVE THE ORDINANCE WHICH MAY CURTAIL THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
TO REPORT WHAT IS SEES FIT AND SUBJECT IT TO THE THREATS OF
CLOSURE, THE PRESS CAN NEVER BE AN EFFECTIVE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC. THIS WILL IN TURN HAMPER THE FLOWERING
OF OUR POLITICAL CULTURE. MY VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN
EXPOUNDED ON MANY OTHER OCCASIONS, AND I WOULD ONLY LIKE TO PUT
ON RECORD TODAY THAT I ONCE AGAIN POSITIVELY ASK FOR THE REPEALING
OF THE ORDINANCE.
ENDS
YOUDE
YYYY
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5.
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