787 09:54 TIB (OOU) HK GOVT
THENEWSPAPERSOCIETYOFHONGKONG
香港報業
會
14th April, 1987
DOVIU WIESUN,
KUMU,
Government House,
Hong Kong,
P.4
L
74
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, may I extend our warmest welcome to your return to Hong Kong and wish you the best in your many years of service as Governor of Hong Kong.
As an old friend of our community, I have no doubt that your Excellency will agree with us that the success of this place has depended, to a large extent, to the cordial and harmonious co-operation between the administration and the people it administered. The recent passage of Section 27 of the Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance has created a furore within our society which has not been witnessed in recent years. The sentiment against this Section is not limited to those working within the newspaper industry or the media, but it also runs deep within the local community. We do not believe this ill feeling will dissipate in a year or so nor will time heal this rift.
Our Society's objections against this particular Section had been published and I do not wish to burden your Excellency by repeating them. Similarly, I trust your Excellency is well briefed by your administration on the points and reasons put forth for supporting this particular Section. The many fine speeches, both for and against this Section, preceding its passage at the Legislative Council are also well documented. While I do not offer any fresh arguments to put before you on Section 27 of the Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance, I wish to stress that our worries are genuine.
To stubbornly stick to a decision, even though it has been shown that it may not be the correct one, is perhaps an easy way out. But to publicly address a wrong and amend it requires courage, wisdom, humility and above all, true leadership. Society will not look upon an act as a reflection
On behalf of our Society, I wish to make a formal request to your Excellency to order a review of Section 27 of the Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance.
Yours very sincerely,
1.8. 192 AY HONG KONG
SHUM CHOI SANG, Chairman.
TELEPHONE 8+53018S
.
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