WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987
18
IRREN WABLE REPORTING SHOULD BE RESTRICTED
THE HOM HE CA CHU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE WAS IN FAVOUR OF HAVING A PROVISION IN THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE WHICH RESTRICTED IRRESPONSIBLE REPORTING OF FALSE NEMS. ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA WAS GENERALLY AGAINST HAVING SUCH A PROVISION IN THE STATUTE BOOKS.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL, MR HO DECLARED AN INTEREST IN THE MATTER IN VIEW OF HIS POSITION AS PUBLISHER AND HIEF EDITOR OF TIN TIN DAILY NEWS.
+1 PERSONA FEEL, AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM IRRESPONSIBLE REPORTING OF FALSE NEWS WHICH COULD UNDERMINE THE CONFIDENCE, INTERNAL STABILITY OF HONG KONG AND THE BUM 172S RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING BOTH HERE AND ABROAD.
HE SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE TOO DIFFICULT A TASK FOR THE MEDIA TO CHECK AND' VERIFY THE TRUTHFULNESS OR OTHERWISE OF AN ITEM OF NEWS,
+IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO AS THEY HAVE A PARAMOUNT DUTY TOWARDS THE PUBLIC RATHER THAN A DESIRE TO AROUSE PUBLIC INTEREST AMB TO FOOST THE MARKETABILITY OF THEIR PUBLICATIONS WITHOUT DUE SEAADO TO THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THEIR CONDUCT, HE ADDED.
*
MR HO SAD THE MEDIA SHOULD NOT FEAR THE ENACTMENT OF SUCH A MEASURE AS A NEW PROVISION WOULD BE PROPOSED TO PROVIDE A DEFENCE FOR THE PERSON CHARGED AND THAT NO PROSECUTION WOULD BE COMMENCED WITHOUT THE COMSENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
HE NOVEL WIT TIMES DIFFICULTIES MIGHT ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE POIS PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF MOT DISCLOSING ITS SOURCE OF INFCHOTION WITHOUT ITS PRIOR CONSENT BUT, IF THAT HAPPENED, THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT.
MR HO CONG NED BY ASKING THE GOVERNMENT FOR AN ASSURANCE THAT THE NEW SMYON 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR TPV 3. LASES AS THE SECTION CLEARLY PERMITTED THOSE CASES TO BE INUD SUMMARILY AND AS SUCH COULD NOT BE OF ANY GREAT MOMENT.
0
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON BILL URGED
X X X X la
THE GOVESHMENT VAS CRITICISED TCD-Y (WEDNESDAY) BY THE HON HUI YIN-SAT DAS NOT HAVING WIDELY CONSULTED THE PUBLIC ON THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986-
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR HUI SAID 11 WAS APPARENT THAT THE MEDIA HAD NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY ON THIS OCCASION.