FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1980
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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SEVEN WORKING DAYS NOTIFICATION PERIOD WAS FELT TO BE REASONABLE AS IT WOULD GIVE THE POLICE SUFFICIENT TIME TO GIVE THE NOTIFICATION THOROUGH ATTENTION.
+IN PARTICULAR OVER HOLIDAY PERIODS THERE IS THE DANGER THAT INSUFFICIENT TIME WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR MAKING THE NECESSARY LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS, HE SAID.
+MOREOVER,+ HE ADDED, THE NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE REQUIRES A GREATER DEGREE OF CO-ORDINATION BY THE AUTHORITIES.+
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR IS EMPOWERED TO MAKE ORDERS DESIGNATING CERTAIN PUBLIC AREAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING
MEETINGS. THIS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR MEETINGS TO BE HELD SUBJECT TO COMMON SENSE CHECKS ABOUT CLASHES OF TIME AND PLACE.
HOWEVER, ORGANISERS WOULD STILL HAVE TO NOTIFY THE POLICE THAT THE MEETING WAS TO TAKE PLACE.
WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC PROCESSIONS, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, THE EXISTING LICENSING PROCEDURE WOULD BE RETAINED.
BUT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO:
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PROCESSIONS WHICH DO NOT TAKE PLACE ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY OR THOROUGHFARE OR IN A PUBLIC PARK-
PROCESSIONS FORMED OF 20 PERSONS OR LESS-
OTHER PROCESSIONS AS SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER
OF POLICE BY A NOTICE IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO RETAIN THE LICENSING PROCEDURE BECAUSE IT WAS FELT PROCESSIONS WERE MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE INCONVENIENCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND TO GIVE RISE TO POSSIBLE DISORDER.
ORGANISED PROCESSIONS INEVITABLY AFFECTED TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS, AND ARRANGEMENTS, THEREFORE, MUST BE CLOSELY MONITORED.
+TO MAKE SURE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WAS NOT UNDULY INCONVENIENCED THE POLICE WOULD HAVE TO DEPLOY ADEQUATE MANPOWER, HE SAID.
ANY MEETING OR PROCESSION THAT WAS HELD WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH THE NOTIFICATION OR LICENSING REQUIREMENT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORISED ASSEMBLY+, AS DISTINCT FROM +UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY+ WHICH WOULD STILL APPLY IN RIOT SITUATIONS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE BILL DEALT MAINLY WITH PRIOR CONTROL OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS, POLICE POWERS ON THE GROUND TO DEAL WITH DISTURBANCES OR POSSIBLE BREACHES OF THE PEACE WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE URGED TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS.
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