!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987
I
+ BECAUSE THIS BILL CANNOT BE LOOKED AT IN ISOLATION WOULD STRESS THE EXTREMELY LIMITED EFFECT OF THE CLAUSE WHICH WE ARE DISCUSSING AND THE CONSIDERABLE BURDEN OF PROOFIT PUTS UPON THE PROSECUTION.
+IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD ASK MEMBERS TO REMEMBER THE KEY ELEMENT IN THE BILL WHICH REQUIRES PROOF BY THE PROSECUTION THAT ALARM IS LIKELY TO BE CAUSED TO THE PUBLIC OR THAT PUBLIC IS LIKELY
TO BE DISTURBED. A CLAUSE, I MUST SAY,
A CLAUSE, I MUST SAY, THAT VOCIFEROUS OPPONENTS OF THE BILL HAVE, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, CHOSEN TO IGNORE IN THEIR ARGUMENT AGAINST THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.+
EARLIER, MR FORD THANKED ALL MEMBERS WHO SPOKE ON THE BILL. +ALL HAVE EXPRESSED WITH GREAT CONVICTION THEIR STRONGLY-HELD VIEWS AND THE DEBATE HAS BEEN LIVELY AND STIMULATING.
+ IT IS FURTHER EVIDENCE, IF ANY WERE REQUIRED, OF THE FREEDOM WHICH WE ALL ENJOY TO SPEAK OUR MINDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.+
PROTECTION WITHOUT AFFECTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
*****
AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WILL PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AGAINST THE PUBLICATION OF PUBLICLY DISRUPTIVE FALSE NEWS WITHOUT AFFECTING THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDENT) BILL 1986 AND THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION (AMENDMENT) BILL DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MR FORD EMPHASISED THAT THE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE FOLLOWING LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH INTERESTED GROUPS AND MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE AIM OF THE AMENDMENTS WAS TO MEET REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY INTERESTED GROUPS, AND OFFICIALS READILY ACCEDED THESE SUGGESTIONS, HE SAID.
+ BELIEVE IT SHOULD NOW BE APPARENT THAT THE AMENDMENT I AM MOVING WILL NOT INHIBIT THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN HONG KONG, WILL NOT LIMIT THE FREEDOM OF PRESS AND ABOVE ALL WILL NOT DISCOURAGE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
+IT IS SIMPLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM A MISCHIEF, WHICH COULD CAUSE THEM UNNECESSARY ALARM.+
/MR FORD