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SUMMARY
During June 15-20, 1987, a delegation of the World Press Freedom Committee met with journalists and government officials in Hong Kong and Singapore to discuss restrictions on news media.
In Hong Kong, a revised press law permits prosecution of media for news reports deemed "false" by officials. In Singa- pore, disputes over a government-demanded "right of reply" have led to circulation restrictions against publications.
In both places, journalists saw a restraint on full and free reporting of news as one result.
After its talks with officials, the delegation concluded:
1. The actions by the governments of Hong Kong and Sin- gapore have had a "chilling effect" on news media, creating pressures for self-censorship.
2. These restraints on a free press and the exercise of journalistic freedom constitute a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and are contrary to the basic tenet for the "free flow" of news.
The delegation recommends that these legislative provi- sions be repealed and that the World Press Freedom Commit- tee and its affiliates present these views before appropriate U.N. bodies and in other fora dedicated to the protection of human rights.