50
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1991
ENABLE
THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (APRIL 24), WILL SUCH ACTIVITIES TO TAKE PLACE IN CERTAIN PUBLIC PLACES.
OF
SYSTEM OF DIRECT DEVELOPMENT
EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND то THE PROPOSALS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TERRITORY'S REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE INTRODUCTION ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HAD STIMULATED THE OF POLITICAL GROUPS AND GIVEN RISE TO ORGANISED ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, LEADING TO THE NEED FOR FUNDS WHICH HAD TO COME MAINLY FROM DONATIONS.
SEEN FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, PUBLIC FUND-RAISING FOR THESE PURPOSES WAS A LEGITIMATE AND INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG AND ACCEPTABLE OUTLETS HAD TO BE PROVIDED FOR THEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,
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A WIDE VARIETY OF SUCH OUTLETS ALREADY EXIST, THE SPOKESMAN
CONTINUED.
"POLITICAL
GROUPS ARE FREE, FOR INSTANCE, TO RAISE FUNDS IN PRIVATELY OWNED PREMISES AND THROUGH THE MAIL AND NEWSPAPERS. THE PROPOSALS SEEK TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OUTLETS IN SUITABLE PUBLIC PLACES FOR FUND-RAISING FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.
"IN SO DOING, HOWEVER, REGARD MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CROWDED CONDITIONS OF HONG KONG'S STREETS AND THOROUGHFARES, AND TO THE NEED ΤΟ
COMPETITION WITH CHARITABLE FUND-RAISING WHICH HAS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT AND IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON INCOME FROM STREET COLLECTION SUCH AS ON FLAG DAYS," HE SAID.
IN THIS CONTEXT, THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THAT THE BEST ARRANGEMENT IS FOR POLITICAL FUND-RAISING TO BE ALLOWED IN SUCH PLACES AS STADIA, CIVIC CENTRES, AND COMMUNITY CENTRES. WHERE ATTENDANCE WOULD NOT BE INCIDENTAL BUT WOULD BE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE AMENDMENT BILL CREATES A NEW AUTHORITY IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS FOR THE ISSUE OF PERMITS RELATING ΤΟ THE COLLECTION OF MONEY IN PUBLIC PLACES FOR NON-CHARITABLE PURPOSES.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR CHARITY REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
THE
WOULD
IN
SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS WILL CONSIDER APPLICATIONS ACCORDANCE WITH A NEW SET OF GUIDELINES GOVERNING FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR NON-CHARITABLE PURPOSES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A PERMIT WOULD ONLY BE ISSUED UNDER NORMAL CONDITION IF THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS WAS SATISFIED THAT THE FUNDS RAISED WOULD BE USED IN WAYS WHICH CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, AND THAT THE FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES WERE TO BE HELD IN SUCH PLACES AS STADIA, CIVIC CENTRES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES.
/"THE PERMIT
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