HONG KONG
Room 623,
Club, Hong Kong
The Foreign Correspondents' Club,
North Block, No. 2 Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong
Tel: 5-211511
Cables: "CORCLUB"
Ilges with the Reuter byter Join Biddulph of the FCC
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Affie 87)
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(HKD) 30°/
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Strand Palace HORELNOY
Tel: 836 8080
- 7 APR 1967
714
•
The Hong Kong Foreign Correspondente Club, whose membership includes
representatives of most of the world's major publications,
radio networks and newS
agencies:
television and
03 local journalists, is dis-
turbed by the recently-enacted Public Order Amendment Ordinance.
Although the bulk of this measure was published many weeks in advance,
thus giving ample time for discussion: one vital clause only Oppeared 0 few
days before the lengthy debate which made it low
This clause
states: Any
!!
N
person who publishes false news which is likely
to cause alarm to the public or a section thereof or disturb public order
shall be guilty of an offence
=
#
马来
=
punishable by two years
Jail.
The Ordinance does not define
of proof of innocence UPOM QnYOME accused. The Ordinance appears to have
been badly drafted (the original version had included the word "maliciously”
but the approved version appears to disregard motive).
"false news and: in effect lays the burden
II
There is a Precedent for this kind of legislation! an English statute
03 "Scandalum Magnatum Was enacted in 1275. But even that was
Finally finally repealed in 1888.
known
Informally, the attitude of the Hong Kong Government seems to be that
nobody has to worry becau: the clouse will not be invoked. If that is
there is need for it at all.
It is o Very
stronge Piece of legislation for a Colony which was chosen not
long ago as the venue for a Commonwealth low conference, It is also, of
Colony which will be taken over by the Chinese Government in
just over ten years' time.
course;