23.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987
+MR LEE'S AMENDMENT THEREFORE DESERVES THE SUPPORT OF ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL IN THEIR DESIRE TO SEE THAT WE MAINTAIN IN HONG KONG THAT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WHICH IS UNEQUALLED IN ANY OTHER TERRITORY IN ASIA,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID SECTION 6 OF THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE RELATING TO FALSE NEWS WAS A DRACONIAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
+ITS PRESENCE ON THE STATUTE BOOK WAS A THREAT TO PRESS FREEDOM RELIEVED ONLY BY THE COMMON SENSE AND FAIRNESS OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN NOT SEEKING TO APPLY ITS PROVISIONS, HE SAID.
MR LI SAID HE WAS NOT ALONE IN BELIEVING THAT COMMON SENSE AND FAIRNESS COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS SATISFACTORY GUARANTEES OF THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+ IT IS THEREFORE A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN TO ALL THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHOULD EXTEND THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL TO EVERY FORM OF EXPRESSION,+ HE ADDED.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH CAN NEVER BE ABSOLUTE *****
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, LIKE ALL OTHER FREEDOMS, COULD NEVER BE ABSOLUTE BUT MUST FIND ITS SCOPE LIMITED BY THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND THE WELL-BEING OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE HON HELMUT SOHMEN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST FEW DAYS DISCUSSION ON THE BILL HAD DEVELOPED INTO A CRESCENDO OF EMOTIVE COMMENT IN THE PRESS, DRAMATICALLY DESCRIBING THE AMENDMENT AS A +PRESS-GAGGING+ MEASURE, AS BEING AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE COMMON LAW, AS A THREAT TO FREE SPEECH, AND EVEN AS THE BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY INTO THE AUTHORITARIAN NIGHT.
+WE MUST CAREFULLY WEIGH ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED BUT MUST ALSO ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THAT THERE IS NEVER ANY ONE SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH CAN CLAIM TO BE THE BEST PROTECTOR OF OUR RIGHTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE MOST VOCAL EXPRESSIONS COME FROM THOSE WITH A VESTED INTEREST,+ HE SAID.
MR SOHMEN