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FHIDAI, APRIL 10, 1981
PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE CHANGES
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THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1980 WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON MAY 8.
THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) TO GIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AMPLE NOTICE AND TIME TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE NEW PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER.
TO ASSIST ORGANISERS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PUBLISH A LEAFLET WHICH PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON THE MAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE HOLDING OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS.
COPIES OF THE LEAFLET, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FREE OF CHARGE AT CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, FROM NEXT WEDNESDAY (APRIL 15).
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE AMENDING LEGISLATION REPRESENTED A RELAXATION OF EXISTING REQUIREMENTS IN THAT PUBLIC MEETINGS WOULD ONLY NEED TO BE NOTIFIED TO THE POLICE, INSTEAD OF BEING LICENSED.
HE ADDED THAT NOTIFICATION WOULD BE REQUIRED ONLY IN THE CASE OF SOME PUBLIC MEETINGS, WHEREAS THE EXISTING LICENSING REQUIREMENT APPLIED TO ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF PUBLIC MEETING.
PUBLIC MEETINGS ORGANISED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL, ACADEMIC, BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS CR CHARITABLE PURPOSES WILL NOT HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED. ALSO EXEMPTED WILL BE PUBLIC MEETINGS OF UP TO 30 PEOPLE, MEETINGS FELD IN PRIVATE PREMISES WHERE UP TO 200 PEOPLE ARE ABLE OR EXPECTED TO ATTEND AND MEETINGS IN EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS ORGANISED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPRESSING VIEWS ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, OR A SECTION OF IT, MUST BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING TO A POLICE STATION AT LEAST SEVEN WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE.
+ IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE POLICE WILL RETAIN THE POWERS TO PROHIBIT A POTENTIALLY UNRULY MEETING WHICH IS NOT IF IED AND TO DEAL WITH DISTURBANCES OR POSSIBLE BREACHES OF THE PEACE AT MEETINGS ALREADY UNDERWAY, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY IS AN ORDER DESIGNATING PUBLIC AREAS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ORDINANCE. THEY ARE :
THE HONG KONG STADIUM=
THE BANDSTAND AREA IN VICTORIA PARK-
THREE FOOTBALL PITCHES IN VICTORIA PARK-
THE OPEN AIR THEATRE IN MORSE PARK-
THE FOOTBALL PITCH IN KOWLOON PARK-
TWO FOOTBALL PITCHES IN KOWLOON TSAI PARK.
//TEMIC MASENINGS