17 '87 16:10 TIBCOOLD) GOVT
P.
78.
Cyriad o fort
RAI B
Speech by the Honourable the Chief Secretary Mr D R Ford, LVO, OBE, JP
in the Legislative Council on 11 March 1987.
Public Order (Amendment) Bill 1986
HiTD 30%
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 O MAR 1987
DEEK OFFICER
Committee Stage
NONA
sir.
DA
AZATRY Action Taken
Amel
In the debate
on Mr Martin Lee's proposed
amendment to the Public Order (Amendment) Bill
B111 1986, Council has been warned by some Members of a potential
threat to the freedom of the press and freedom of
expression. Sir, I I do not belleve that the fears
expressed will be found to be real in practice Other
sentiments have also been expressed that, in the wider
public interest, there is need to retain legal sanctions against the publication of false news likely to cause
public alarm or disturb public order.
It is this very limited provision we are concerned with.
¥
provision,
f
the
In drafting on appropriate Government has had regard to both the Importance of
preserving freedom of expression and the need to provide
degree of protection to the community against the
publication of publicly disruptive folse news. The
amendments I now propose will I believe. Sir, achieve
these objectives without in any way affecting the freedom
of the expression in Hong song.