MRS CHOW:
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Sir, I support Mr. P.K. Yeung's proposed amendment.
I can well understand what exactly the censor is required to
do with his formulation. He should consider a film by taking into account the Covenant as it is applied in Hong Kong.
I cannot understand what exactly the censor is required to
His amendment to insert do with Mr. Lee's formulation.
comply with' is qualified with the margin of appreciation normally afforded to Governments. Now what does it exactly
With this
mean and which Government, the Soviet Government, the Australian Government or other signatories of the Covenant? amendment, will our Courts then be required to determine what the margin of appreciation normally afforded to Government is?
On balance, I would like to give more discretion rather than less to our censors, bearing in mind the very sensitive political position we are in and the likelihood that we could very well be caught in the cross-fire of external political propaganda. I believe I am reflecting the feeling of the community here, notwithstanding our very clear desire to preserve freedom of expression. I do not believe Mr. Yeung's amendments put that in jeopardy, neither does it contravene 24 Article 19.
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than
Mr. Lat's
I do not
Before I close, I would like to refer to comment about the legal profession's representation. doubt whatsoever their sincerity in putting forward the representation in the hope of preserving the freedom of expression, but I would like to repeat, I do not believe that Mr, Yeung's amendment puts in jeopardy that freedom of expression. I also do not believe that we need to abide by every opinion
put forward by the legal profession.
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We are legislators here
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and we need to consider all views put forward.
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I have no reservation in supporting Mr. Yeung's amendment.