I
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1986
BILLS PROPOSE CERTAIN CHANGES TO PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE
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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO REPEAL A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS CONSIDERED OUTDATED IN THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE.
AT THE SAME TIME AMENDMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE DEPOSITS, FEES AND PENALTIES RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS AGENCIES REGULATIONS AND TO THE NEWSPAPERS DISTRIBUTION REGULATIONS.
THE CHANGES ARE CONTAINED IN THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 AND THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND IN THE NEWSPAPERS REGISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1987 AND THE NEWS AGENCIES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) REGULATION 1987 TO BE MADE LATER.
UNDER THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO REPEAL SECTIONS OR REGULATIONS WHICH:
* MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO PRINT OR PUBLISH ANYTHING OF A
SUBVERSIVE NATURE;
*
PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF NEWSPAPERS AND THE SUSPENSION OF THEIR PUBLICATION:
*
PROVIDE FOR THE PROHIBITION OF IMPORTATION OF PUBLICATIONS;
*
PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRAR TO REFUSE OR SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OF NEWS AGENCIES;
*
*
*
PROVIDE FOR THE SEIZURE OF PRINTING PRESSES:
PROVIDE FOR THE SEARCH, SEIZURE, FORTFEITURE AND DISPOSAL OF ARTICLES: AND
ALLOW THE REGISTRAR TO REFUSE TO LICENSE OR CANCEL THE LICENCE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR.
IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE SECTION DEALING WITH MALICIOUS PUBLICATION OF FALSE NEWS WHICH IS LIKELY TO ALARM OR DISTURB PUBLIC OPINION BE REPEALED FROM THE ORDINANCE, BUT THAT A COMPENSATORY PROVISION BE MADE TO THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, WHICH ALSO DEALS WITH PUBLIC MISCHIEF.
IT WAS FELT THAT SINCE THE PURPOSE OF THE PROVISION WAS THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC ORDER, THE SECTION WOULD PERHAPS BELONG MORE NATURALLY TO THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE.
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