registration under the Societies Ordinance" and substituting "in
respect of which the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151) applies".
36. First Schedule amended
The First Schedule is amended in Note 2 to Forms 1 to 5
inclusive and in Note 1 to Form 6 by repealing "registered or
exempted from registration under the Societies Ordinance" and
substituting "in respect of which the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151)
applies".
37.
Repeal
Societies Rules
The Societies Rules (Cap. 151 sub. leg.) are repealed.
Explanatory Memorandum
This Bill amends the Societies Ordinance so that it would be
consistent with the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (Cap. 383).
2.
The existing requirement for societies to be registered or
exempted from registration to gain lawful status is found repugnant
to the freedom of association which the Bill of Rights seeks to
protect. This Bill seeks to replace the registration system with
notification system. After these proposed amendments, people can
form lawful societies freely without the requirement of registrat:
and subject only to a requirement to notify such establishment.
there is no more registration of societies, the office of the
Registrar of Societies is renamed the