WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1974
14
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHURCH, GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY ******
THE CHURCH HAS A DUTY TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION AND TO PROVIDE LEADERS AND SPOKESMEN REFLECTING THIS OPINION ON MATTERS FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE, MR. DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR-HOME AFFAIRS, SAID TODAY.
THIS DUTY, HE SAID, HAD TRADITIONALLY BEEN READILY ACCEPTED BY THE CHURCHES IN HONG KONG WHO HAD PROVIDED AND EXPRESSED COHERENTLY VIEWS ON MANY MATTERS OF POLICY, AND WHOSE LEADERS HAD BEEN FOUND ON PUBLIC BODIES APPOINTED TJ EVOLVE PULICY.
rkt. BRAY WAS SPEAKING ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CHURCH, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN COUNCIL HELD AT THE WARD MEMORIAL CHURCH IN WATERLOO ROAD.
+IN THE FIELD OF MORALS AND VICE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE DUTIES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CHURCHES SEEMS TJ ME TO BE ESSENTIAL IN MODERN SOCIETY WHERE BOTH CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT HAVE THEIR OWN VITAL ROLES, + HE SAID.
ON ISSUES INVOLVING LAW AND MORALS HE FELT THAT IT IS NEVER EASY TO DECIDE ON THE RIGHT PLACE TO DRAW THE LINE AT THE EDGE OF CRIME.
HE THEREFORE URGED THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER AT LEISURE JUST WHICH FACTORS SHOULD DETERMINE THE IMMORAL ACTS THAT SHOULD BE CRIMES AND THOSE WHICH SHOULD NOT.
MR. BRAY ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE CHURCH HAS THE UNENDING AND COMPARATIVELY MORE DIFFICULT TASK THAN THE GOVERNMENT OF GUIDING THE COMMUNITY AWAY FROM ACTS OF SIN EVEN THOUGH THE ACTS THEMSELVES MIGHT BREAK NO LAW.
NOTE TO EDITORS: COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. BRAY'S
SPEECH ARE BOXED FOR COLLECTION.
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NEW BILLS IN LEGCO
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THREE BILLS THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION CAMENDMENT) BILL 19/4, THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974 AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC CREGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974 WERE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DESATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE THREE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL CAMENDMENT) BILL PASSED ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING AT TODAY'S SITTING.