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-
in the past. Even during the riots in 1967, the offenders were
not prosecuted under this section, but for sedition.
Further, we
are
not dealing with emergency
to
the
situations, which are provided for in the Emergency Regulations
Ordinance which confer very draconian powers
to control the publication of any news,
including pre-publication censorship. Regulation 27 more or
Administration
less covers the same situation.
It has been said by a political commentator Mr. T.L.
Tsim in a recent documentary that the freedom of the press
depends on 4 things :- First, public figures must be willing to
speak out on sensitive topics; secondly, there must be
willingness on the part of reporters and journalists to report
what they say; thirdly, the editors must be willing to publish
these reports; and fourthly the proprietors concerned will not
take
subsequent action to sack the reporters,
and/or editors by reason of such publications.
journalists
particularly
If the present Bill were to become law
in its amended form, what chances are they that the public
figures will speak out on sensitive issues? And even if they
do,
what chances a re there that they
will be
reported?
faithfully
L