HONG KONG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
香港記者協會
manner. This law will also lapse in 1997, as it makes reference to Britain and the Queen. No move has been made to enact a Hong Kong law.
4) The Police Force Ordinance,
as it relates to the seizure of journalistic material. The Hong Kong Law Reform Commission has recommended that special procedures should be created, to allow for the seizure of journalistic material. The government is now considering the issue, but there is no timetable for action.
5) The Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, as it relates to the disclosure of information about suspects in corruption cases. There are severe restrictions on what can be reported about suspects.
6) The Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Ordinance, as it relates to the way the media can report court cases.
7) Contempt of court legislation. The government has been considering the enactment of contempt of court
court legislation for the past 10 years, but has so far done nothing.
8) The Film Censorship Ordinance, as it relates
relates to political censorship, for example films which may be offensive or embarrassing to China.
9) The Public Order Ordinance, as it relates to the control of meetings and processions. The government is now reviewing this legislation.
10) The Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance, relates to what can be published in advertisements.
as it
11) The Defamation Ordinance, as it relates to criminal libel.
A clear timetable is needed for reform of laws which the government has agreed to amend, and for a thorough review of the above eleven laws.
The HKJA was also disappointed that the government review failed to advocate access to information legislation, even though the existing system of information dissemination is highly discretionary.
The HKJA is continuing to press for both law reform and access to information legislation.
Hong Kong Journalists Association
October 19th, 1993
ADDRESS: 6/F, DIAMOND MANSION,
462 LOCKHART ROAD, HONG KONG
址:香港洛克道462號鑽石大厦六字樓
TEL/5910692
X/FAX: 5727329
GPO BOX:11726 香港郵政總局信箱一一七二六號
Affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists 本會為國際記者聯會成員
ASSOCIATE UNIONS / INPH 92*** Australian Journalists Association National Union of Journalists
(Great Britain & Ireland)
The Newspaper Guild (US & Canada) New Zealand Journalists Union
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pa. Article XIX.
VISIT OF LORD MCGREGOR TO CHINA AND HONG KONG
1. As notified by faxes to Peking and Shanghai from Greenwood (FED), Lord McGregor, Chairman of the Reuter Trustees, and Sir Frank Rogers, one of the Trustees and Deputy-Chairman of the Telegraph, plan to visit Hong Kong and China according to the following itinerary: -
BA 27 to Hong Kong on 1 October
KA 328 to Peking on 8 October, arriving 1045
CA 81 to Shanghai on 13 October, arriving 1235
Shanghai to London via Hong Kong on 18/19 or 19/20 October.
2.
In
In Hong Kong they will take part in a media conference. China they aim to obtain first-hand impressions of the current situation, not only as regards the press but also politics and the economy. Their programme is being organised by Reuters (Hong Kong) and Ambassador Ma, although the latter, having made various promises, has yet to provide any information about actual appointments. They came to see Fry (FED) and Morris (HKD) today to discuss the visit.
3. For Peking: Lord McGregor would very much like to call on you for a briefing. We have explained to him that you will be heavily preoccupied with the Hong Kong talks on 11/12 October and preparations for them before that. He understands that but would welcome a short meeting if it could be fitted in, eg. on 8 October.
4.
For Peking and Shanghai: rather surprisingly at this late stage, Lord McGregor and Sir Frank Rogers asked for recommendations as to whom they should aim to see. It is not easy to offer advice without knowing exactly what Reuters (and perhaps Ma) are already fixing up, but as well as the Director of the MFA Information Bureau, Editors and the Communist Party, who seem already to be in Lord McGregor's sights, we suggested that
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he might find it useful to meet officials handling economic reform, particularly in the financial services sector. Grateful for any suggestions (if possible Deskby 291200Z).
5. For Hong Kong: Lord McGregor asked whether it would cause Hong Kong Government any embarrassment if the media conference in Hong Kong were to draw attention to those aspects of Hong Kong Law which should be repealed in the interests of press freedom (he had in mind the provisions identified by the Article XIX report). Morris (HKD) said that the conference Were of course free to say what they chose. But any statement might take account of the fact that the Hong Kong Government were aware of these concerns and were taking steps to amend those provisions of Hong Kong Legislation which did not accord with the Bill of Rights.
6.
Lord McGregor and Sir Frank Rogers asked for advice on who they should meet in the margins of the seminar. They said that they were in touch with Mike Hanson, IC, and mentioned pointedly that the Governor had been kind enough to see them on their last visit to Hong Kong.
Grateful for advice on whom they might see.
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