WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988
FINAL STEP IN LIBERALISING CONTROL OVER PUBLICATIONS
* * * * *
THE TIME IS RIGHT TO SEEK THE REPEAL OF SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE AS A LOGICAL FINAL STEP IN THE PROCESS OF LIBERALISING CONTROL OVER PUBLICATIONS, STARTED BY THE GOVERNMENT YEARS AGO.
TWO
THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
BILL ANY
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT)
TO 1988, MR TSAO SAID SECTION 27 MADE IT AN OFFENCE
IN PUBLISH LOCAL NEWSPAPER FALSE NEWS LIKELY TO CAUSE PUBLIC ALARM.
HE SAID THAT IN THE REVIEW OF SECTION 27, TWO THINGS STOOD OUT.
"THE FIRST IS THAT THE FACTORS SUPPORTING RETENTION ARE AS VALID TODAY AS THEY WERE NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO. FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, THE CASE FOR RETENTION IS ALSO STILL STRONG.
"BUT THERE ARE ALSO NEW FACTORS TO WEIGH ON
THE
BALANCE," HE
SAID.
IT
WAS OUR THAT
"THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT CLEAR INTENTION TO LIBERALISE THE LAW, THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION WAS THE NEW PACKAGE WAS A MEANS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RESTRICT THE PRESS.
"AT A TIME WHEN PUBLIC INTEREST IN CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTEDLY HIGH AND WIDESPREAD,
MISCONCEPTION IS MOST
UNFORTUNATE."
MR TSAO SAID THAT AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THE RETENTION OF THE PUBLIC RELEVANT SECTION WOULD BE LIKELY TO CAUSE CONCERN TO OF PROPORTION TO THE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY OF KEEPING IT.
"OVERSEAS THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING,
THE
OUT
HE ADDED.
MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT THE HISTORY OF SECTION 27 OF THE ORDER ORDINANCE DATED BACK TO THE BARLY 1950'S.
PUBLIC
"IN 1951 THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE OF THE DAY DEVISED ENACTED THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE.
THE
AND
"TO MEKT LOCAL CONDITIONS AT
ORDINANCE TIME, THE
THE POWER CONTAINED A NUMBER OF FAIRLY DRACONIAN CONTROL PROVISIONS:
AND SEIZE PRINTING PRESSES, TO SUPPRESS NEWSPAPERS, ENTER PREMISES PROHIBIT IMPORTATION OF
AND SUSPEND NEWS AGENCIES," HE SAID.
PUBLICATIONS,
REGISTRATION
OF
/FOR MORE
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