The Rt Hon Paddy Ashdown MP
House of Commons
LONDON
SW1A OAA
Thank you for your letter of 29 June about the
prosecution of certain individuals in Hong Kong under the
Summary Offences Ordinance.
As you will appreciate, these matters are sub
judice, pending further court hearings, and for this
reason I cannot comment on the particular circumstances of the specific cases you quote. In any case, these prosecutions are a matter for the Hong Kong Government
and the prosecuting authorities there.
I would however like to make the general point that in Hong Kong legislation governing the use of
loudspeakers and on the collection of money in public are
prudent and reasonable measures for the protection of the public. They are in no way inconsistent with the
protection of the high degree of freedom within the law
which Hong Kong people enjoy and will continue to enjoy. The Hong Kong Government do not accept that restrictions
of this kind are inconsistent with the relevant
provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, which the Hong Kong Bill of Rights is intended to implement.
TUGAAC
Margaret Thatcher