1990-07-25
11:26
SECURITY BRANCH
852 868 5074 P.03
司
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
Our Ret
(45) in SCR 1/1126/89
23 July 1990
But Your Ret
Mr Winston Chan
Chairman
The Alliance of Hong Kong Chinese
in the United States,
1377 K Street, NW
Suite 151,
Washington, DC 20005
United States of America.
Dear Mr Chan,
I refer to your Association's letter dated 11 July 1990 to the Governor, and am authorised to reply to it on his behalf.
It would be inappropriate for me to comment at this stage on the details of the cases involved since the matter is sub-judice pending the outcome of court hearings currently in progress. However, it might be useful if I were to review in general terms how the offences allegedly involved are perceived in Hong Kong.
Controls on the use of loudspeakers in public are provided under the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) and the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228). It must be borne in mind that in Hong Kong's highly urbanised environment, with some of the highest population densities in the world, uncontrolled use of loudspeakers has the potential to cause excessive disturbance to the public. It is also vital that there be no unnecessary interference with police crowd control directions. The use of loudspeakers is allowed where no conflict with police operations is likely, and where the degree of noise pollution is acceptable having regard to all the circumstances.
Permits to collect money in public are issued by the Director of Social Welfare under the provisions of the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228) to ensure that only bona fide organisations are allowed to solicit funds